A significant proportion of Indian MSMEs seem to be adversely affected by selected Chinese imports, which grew at a higher rate compared to shipments from the rest of the world.
According to information compiled from data provided by Director General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, imports from China in 11 major product groups, largely manufactured by MSMEs in India, have grown at a higher rate than their respective imports from all countries combined during 2012-13 to 2015-16.
“As these 11 product groups accounted for 74 per cent of India’s total imports from China in 2015-16, a significant proportion of Indian MSMEs seem to be adversely affected from Chinese imports as compared to the rest of the world,” Minister of State for MSME Giriraj Singh in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
The 11 product groups pertain to electrical and electronics, mechanical and metallurgical products, as well as chemical, glass and ceramics based items.
Union MSME Minister Kalraj Mishra, during a recent visit to China, had invited the country’s businesses to partner with Indian companies, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) for technological collaboration and manufacturing in India. FDI policy places some restrictions on foreign investment in certain sectors. Subject to such restrictions, foreign investors can set up enterprises in India without a lower level ceiling on investment. Such investment can be greenfield as well as in existing enterprises.
By Baishakhi Dutta
