Stakeholders have highlighted the importance of a comprehensive strategy for revitalizing export-focused industrial clusters. This strategy involves upgrading infrastructure, enhancing capacity, adopting technology, and improving market reach. At a recent meeting led by the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC), the focus was on bolstering domestic manufacturing ecosystems, especially in sectors with high reliance on imports.
During the meeting chaired by Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Rajat Kumar Saini, CEO of NICDC, underscored the significance of ongoing engagement with stakeholders to fine-tune and implement the cluster development framework. The gathering saw active participation from Export Promotion Councils (EPCs), industry groups, financial bodies, research institutions, and government representatives.
Participants emphasized the necessity of robust quality infrastructure for testing, certification, and enhancing global competitiveness while reducing dependence on foreign facilities, as per the Commerce Ministry. Discussions also emphasized the promotion of innovation, research, technology commercialization, and targeted support for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to boost productivity and integrate them into global value chains.
The meeting highlighted the importance of effective governance mechanisms, such as industry-driven participation through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), and the establishment of facilitation systems at the cluster level to assist investors and businesses. Simplifying regulatory processes, increasing awareness about government schemes, and providing more flexibility at the state and district levels for tailored implementation were also stressed.
Furthermore, the talks covered strengthening design, innovation, intellectual property ecosystems, creating sustainable financing models, and leveraging existing government initiatives to scale up promising clusters. There was a consensus on placing MSMEs at the core of cluster development efforts, focusing on improving financial access, enhancing capabilities, and enabling greater participation in global markets. Aligning cluster development with global demand trends and fortifying India’s position in global value chains were also key points of discussion.
