I am happy to launch the fifth volume of the Dun & Bradstreet publication series on small and medium enterprises, Emerging SMEs: Hyderabad 2008. This publication will prove to be a valuable resource on SMEs located in Hyderabad and nearby areas, as well as provide them a platform to reach out to potential clients. Dun & Bradstreet’s global footprint and market reach will ensure that this publication series is established globally as the premier information resource on the SME segment.

The publication covers SMEs in the engineering, pharmaceutical and IT & ITeS-BPO sectors in and around Hyderabad. While the engineering sector has always played an important role in the economic development of India, the IT & ITeS-BPO and pharmaceutical sectors have emerged as positive drivers of economic growth in the last few years.

With increasing opportunities in the domestic and international market, the scope and role for SMEs in the engineering, pharmaceutical and IT & ITeS-BPO has increased manifold. In IT & ITeS-BPO sector, global technology related spending is expected to grow at an annual average growth rate of 7% to reach US$ 2.1 trillion by 2010, opening up large opportunities for Indian IT & ITeS-BPO companies. This is expected to provide further growth impetus to the IT & ITeS-BPO sector in India. In Pharmaceuticals, India ranks 4th in the world, accounting for 8% of world’s production by volume and 1.5% by value. Through this publication, D&B has sought to profile the emerging SMEs in these segments in the Hyderabad cluster.

The cluster approach, in particular, has proved effi cient in terms of gaining credit facility, risk sharing, policy and institutional development and technical & marketing assistance. Globally, as well as in India, SMEs have used the cluster based approach to garner support through collective bargaining power, governmental policy, regulatory and institutional reforms, capacity building and initiatives for supporting efficient SME financing and business development services. The overall climate is proving conducive for the SMEs to graduate not just from small to medium, but also from the national to the global arena.

Dun & Bradstreet shall endeavour to continue meeting your high expectations of Emerging SMEs: Hyderabad 2008. I look forward to receiving your feedback and suggestions.

David J. Emery
President
International Partnerships & Asia – Pacific