The Quality Council of India and the National Small Industries Corporation Limited have inked a five-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) to create a collaborative ecosystem enhancing quality, competitiveness, and market access for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) nationwide. This partnership aims to merge QCI’s accreditation and certification expertise with NSIC’s robust MSME support network to expedite the adoption of globally recognized quality standards and foster the growth of Indian businesses, as per a statement from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
The initiative will incorporate various programs such as the MSME Sustainable (ZED) Certification Scheme, MSME Global Mart, the TEAM Initiative, and the Single Point Registration Scheme. These efforts are designed to empower companies to capitalize on the strengths of both organizations through a unified support system, the statement elaborated.
Furthermore, the collaboration seeks to promote wider acceptance of Zero Defect Zero Effect (ZED) Certification, enhance digital market access, reinforce testing and accreditation infrastructure, and broaden capacity-building opportunities for MSMEs and training institutions. ZED-certified MSMEs will gain increased access to digital commerce via MSME Global Mart, participation in the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) through the TEAM Initiative, AI-driven product cataloging, and export promotion via dedicated digital platforms.
Additionally, the partnership will fortify the alignment between ZED Certification and NSIC’s Single Point Registration Scheme, facilitate NABL accreditation for NSIC testing facilities, and support NABET-led evaluation, accreditation, and tailored capacity-building programs for NSIC training centers and laboratories. To ensure effective implementation, QCI and NSIC will establish a Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) comprising representatives from both entities, which will convene quarterly to identify new collaboration areas, track progress, and oversee joint initiative execution.
Chairman-cum-Managing Director of NSIC, Dr. Subhransu Sekhar Acharya, highlighted that the collaboration with QCI merges quality, market access, and institutional support to create enhanced opportunities for MSMEs to boost competitiveness, expand into new markets, and achieve sustainable growth. Dr. A. Raj, Senior Director and Head of National Division for Industry Excellence (NDIE) and Chief Executive Officer of National Board for Quality Promotion (NBQP) at QCI, emphasized that the partnership will elevate MSME competitiveness, reinforce quality awareness, and further advance QCI’s National Quality Campaign.
