European Congress of Small & Medium Sized Enterprises 2018

Organised by
Event: : 8th Edition of the European Congress of Small & Medium Sized Enterprises
Dates : Wednesday, 17 October to Thursday, 18 October, 2018
Venue Katowice, Poland


The Indian delegation was chosen from several Indian SME companies after a rigorous qualifying process. An emailer was circulated to 8,24,212 MSMEs across India. Images, with hyperlinks and text messages were sent circulated among 2710 WhatsApp groups, along with substantial social media amplification. Advertisements seeking Indian delegates were also place in monthly magazines.

Response & Selection:

  1. 983 MSMEs responded to the forms they received
  2. 702 application forms were received
  3. 324 forms were rejected as disqualified and / or incomplete
  4. 125 were shortlisted
  5. 114 forwarded to the Union Ministry for MSME
  6. Out of which 32 delegates were selected

 

The delegation of 32 Indian SMEs led by Ms Alka Arora, Joint Secretary, Ministry of MSME participated in the 8th European Congress on Katowice, Poland.

On Wednesday, October 17, 2018, India SME Forum was felicitated as a partner organisation for Indo-Polish trade co-operation.

 



This was followed by a series of business to business (B2B) meetings at the Indian Pavilion at the expo.

 

 

 

 

Inaugurating the event, Ms Alka Arora said that India is home to more than 60 million MSMEs, which have the ability and capability to access international markers and work as ancillaries to larger international firms. These MSMEs provide livelihood to more than 100 million people and create value for the entire global community. 

Ms Arora said that given the impact of MSMEs in India, it is imperative to integrate them now into the global value chain by establishing possible linkages with international partners. In order to fructify opportunities with India and Indian SMEs, the Congress will be an opportunity to make direct business relations between European and Indian SMEs.


A keynote speech was delivered by Ms Alka Arora - Joint Secretary , Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises of the Government of India.

The Indian delegation was chaired by the Ms Alka Arora - Joint Secretary , Minister of MSME. Accompanying him were experts including Prahlad Kakkar- Brand Guru & Chairman of India SME Forum, Mandeep Kaur (IAS) Joint Development Commissioner (MSME), Sunil Tyagi-General Manager, International Cooperation(NSIC) and Vinod Kumar- President India SME Forum .

This was followed by the Global SME Meeting. There was a presentation about the economic potential and chances for economic co-operation with the Republic of India. Presentations were made by key branches of the Government of India. Discussions were held on co-operation between the Voivode of Silesia and the Republic of India.

Experts who were present included Tsewang Namgyal, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Republic of Poland and Tomasz Pietrzykowski, Vice-Rector for Domestic and International Co-operation at University of Silesia.

The session was moderated by Mr. Vinod Kumar, President of India SME Forum.


A business networking reception was organised for participants on Thursday, October 18, 2018.
After an introduction by the President of the RIG, Ms Alka Arora, Hon’ble Joint Secretary of the MSME Ministry delivered a keynote address. This was followed by a special address by Ms Elzbieta Bienkowska, Commissioner for Trade, Industry Entrepreneurship & SMEs of the European Union, after which mementos were presented to the President RIG.

 

Small and Medium Enterprises from around 50 countries participated in the three-day event, which continued till 19 October 2018. The organisers allotted a special session of one and a half hour for discussion about trade and business opportunities with India and Indian SMEs. The visiting Indian delegation showcased Indian products and services at the Indian Pavilion.

 

Outcome:

189 B2B meetings were organised and 12 MoUs were signed by Indian delegation members for B2B co-operation.