Nasscom starts SME forum

CHENNAI: Identifying Chennai as a hot spot of the SME segment, Nasscom has formed a forum for the SMEs in Chennai. Cognizant Technology Solutions President and COO, Lakshmi Narayanan would head the forum. This forum has been launched shortly on the heels of the launch of forum for BPO-ITES in Tamil Nadu.

According to Nasscom, an SME can be viewed as a company which makes a turnover of less than Rs 10 crore annually. 'Out of the 950 software companies in Tamil Nadu, only about 22 companies made an export of more than Rs 50 crore in software. When we reduce those 22 out of the 950 companies, the rest form the SME segment, which is a major strength in Tamil Nadu.

This forum will act as gateway to the world. As a first step from the Government, we will provide the SMEs an environment to grow. In terms of policy, the SMEs will be eligible for subsidies to set up stalls in exhibitions and fairs held both in India and abroad,' said Tamil Nadu IT Secretary Vivek Harinarain.

Speaking about the forum, Narayanan said that the whole idea of the forum in the IT industry is to see what role Nasscom can play in facilitating SMEs in Tamil Nadu. 'In the coming years specific thrust will be given to the SMEs. A group of people has been drawn from the executive council of NASSCOM in crystallizing and coagulating the SMEs and addressing their issues,' he added. The forum would facilitate orders for the SMEs, bring up greater level of interaction between the SMEs and between SMEs and greater organizations.