I am happy to launch the sixth volume of the Dun & Bradstreet’s publication series on small and medium enterprises, Emerging SMEs: Kolkata 2008. This publication will prove to be a valuable resource on SMEs located in Kolkata 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, food processing, IT & ITeS-BPO and textile sectors in and around Kolkata. While the engineering and textile sectors have always played an important role in the economic development of India, the IT & ITeS-BPO and food processing 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, food processing, IT & ITeS-BPO and textile has increased manifold. Opportunities also look strong for the food processing sector, given that India is the largest producer of milk in the world with production of 91 mn tonnes, second largest producer of fruits & vegetables with 150 mn tonnes and the third largest producer of food grains and fish. 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 textiles, India is the second largest producer of silk and third largest producer of cotton in the world. Through this publication, D&B has sought to profile the emerging SMEs in these segments in the Kolkata cluster.

The cluster approach, in particular, has proved efficient 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 the small to the medium, but also from the national to the global arena.

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

David J. Emery
President
International Partnerships & Asia – Pacific