Dun & Bradstreet India (D&B India) reinforces its commitment towards servicing small and medium enterprises through the launch of its cluster based publication, D&B - Union Bank of India SME Cluster Series 2010: Ludhiana, in strategic association with Union Bank of India.

India has emerged as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, having recorded a growth of more than 8% (CAGR) in GDP during FY06 - FY10. The government recognises that to sustain the current economic progress, the industrial and services sectors need to record a broad based and robust growth. It has also been proved that this growth will be unachievable without the support of the MSME segment which has gradually accentuated over a period of time and has turned out to be a significant growth driver of the economy.

MSMEs play a significant role in the development of the economy by providing employment to 65.9 mn people and contributing around 45% to India’s manufacturing output. Today, SMEs are established players in almost all the core sectors of the economy. The contribution of MSMEs to national GDP has increased from 5.8% in FY06 to 8% in FY08. The segment continues to be the thrust area for several government institutions, corporate bodies and banks, and is perceived as an agent of economic transformation and growth.

The current publication, D&B - Union Bank of India SME Cluster Series 2010: Ludhiana, attempts to highlight the operational characteristics, financing needs, information technology aspects, issues and challenges and growth prospects of MSMEs operating in the engineering and textile sectors in Ludhiana. In short, it presents a platform to analyse the dynamics of the engineering and textiles MSMEs of the Ludhiana cluster from a macro and micro perspective.

D&B - Union Bank of India SME Cluster Series 2010: Ludhiana preserves D&B’s heritage of providing information and knowledge that facilitate informed business decisions. D&B has drawn on its time-tested expertise in providing business information to the benefit of micro, small and medium companies, as this publication amply reflects. I hope you enjoy reading the D&B - Union Bank of India SME Cluster Series 2010: Ludhiana, and look forward to receiving your valuable suggestions.

Kaushal Sampat
President & CEO - India
Dun & Bradstreet