Nasscom Support for SMEs

BANGALORE, INDIA:

Nasscom's new strategy and initiatives for the SME sector are targeted to give a helping hand to SMEs from their bigger, more robust brethren, who are a major part of NASSCOM membership.

Nasscom is now set to redress some of the grievances the smaller members have been orchestrating for the past few years, and in all likelihood, through Nasscom SME cause.Based on the input that SME companies lose out on lucrative Government and defense contracts that usually go to larger ICT players, Nasscom has decided that it will take some kind of policy initiatives to ensure that SMEs get a percentage of contracts emanating out of this segment. bigger players.

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As part of its initiatives to improve the SME standing with the Government, Nasscom also decided to catalyze software development for Indian languages. This was in line with the Government stand that it would compulsorily spend around five percent on development of software for Indian languages.

The other area where SMEs need a helping hand from Nasscom is in the area of marketing. These companies find it difficult to establish their credentials, particularly in the overseas markets. The agenda suggested by Nasscom here, centered around developing synergies between the small and big players. The organization has also suggested that more road shows and focused events be held in order to generate leads for the SME players.

Nasscom is also considering interacting with the Government on the issue of creating a marketing fund to promote the SME segment. Players from the SME segment are likely to be ready to make contributions in this regard to generate more business leads.

Initiatives being taken by Nasscom for the SME sector cover the following:

• Increase networking and face-to-face meetings between SME companies and potential customers in the developed markets.
• Business generation through the Internet will be encouraged, with SMEs bidding for contracts in a transparent manner.
• Nasscom will attempt to bring buyers into India in order to create client confidence in the capabilities of the SME segment.
• Nasscom aims to work more closely with vertical industry segment associations like chemicals, automobiles
• Nasscom will enable the creation of a CIO forum where SMEs can interact with CIOs from developed markets to impress upon them their capabilities and the work that they have done.
• A fund for marketing SMEs will be created
• Nasscom will be working with trade commissions in various countries to take up the cause of the smaller players
• Nasscom will help SMEs identify new market segments
• SMEs will be provided help by Nasscom to gain Government contracts by altering qualifying conditions for IT projects
• Nasscom is likely to form a formal SME forum both for meetings as well as on the Web.
• Nasscom may provide guidelines and directions to the SME segment to develop successful business models.

Source: www.nasscom.in