PROFILE OF FISME

An Introduction

After opening up of Indian economy, National Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs (NAYE) which was established in 1967, with  eight state level SME associations, gave birth to Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME) in 1995 to gear up the Indian SMEs at the national level to the challenges thrown open by changed economic realities.

FISME has evolved into a large network of regional, state and district level SME associations. FISME has a federal structure and plays the role of an umbrella organization of SME associations both product and geographic spread over all major states of the country. The network reaches out to around 500,000 SMEs.   

 

FISME has non-profit status granted by Income Tax department  under section 12-A and 80-G.  It is governed by an elected team of office  bearers and decision making body called Central Executive Committee. There are task specific committees headed by a chairperson which deliberate issues related to their area of operation and assist the Executive committee in decision making. The secretariat headed by Secretary General is based in Delhi.

FISME is widely regarded today as the progressive face of SMEs.  

SECTORS SERVED:

  • General Engineering (including machine tools, auto parts etc)
  • Electricals
  • Electronics
  • Plastics and plastic products
  • Leather and leather products
  • Paper and paper products
  • Micronutrients/ fertilizers
  • Food processing
  • Information Technology
  • Textiles
  • Rubber & rubber products
  • Handicrafts
  • Chemicals and pharmaceuticals
  • Plants and Machines
  • Services

MISSION

To assist SMEs build capabilities to respond to changing external economic environment and exploit new opportunities by becoming market centric.

FOCUS AREAS OF OPERATIONS

  • Policy advocacy function at national level to safeguard interests of SMEs and to create an enabling environment for their development and growth
  • Trade Issues (Import and Export), Trade negotiations including for WTO,  to enhance market access for Indian SMEs
  • Implementation of SME development projects supported by National and International Agencies
  • Coordination of collective initiatives of SMEs at national level to enhance access to Finance, Business Development Services and new Markets 
  • Commissioning Research on SME issues  
  • Conduct of Trade Fairs, Seminars and Workshops to attain FISME’s objectives

RECOGNITION  AND NETWORKING

a. In India: FISME is regarded as the progressive face of Indian SMEs and is recognized as such by all Ministries and related organizations of the Union Government. Accordingly FISME is nominated by the Government at :

  • Member of Quasi judicial ‘Advisory Committee’ under MSME Development Act 2006, Ministry of MSME
  • FISME is authorized by Ministry of Commerce and Industry , Govt. of India to issue Certificate of Origin ( for exporters). FISME’s authorization is duly recognized by Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India for purposes of legalization of documents.
  • Non-profit status granted by Income Tax department under sections 12-A and 80G.
  • Member of Working groups on Small Industries at Planning Commission
  • Scores of committees related to MSME in Ministry of Commerce and Industry , DGFT and Export Promotion Councils, Ministry of MSME, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of External Affairs among others.
  • FISME works closely with public SSI promotion institutions of the country as Development Commissioner-MSME, Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) etc. and have launched several joint initiatives at national level.
  • Further, FISME is regularly invited to appear before the Department Related Standing Committees of the Parliament on Small Scale Industries, Commerce and Industry etc., to present its views.
  • FISME also works closely with several State Governments for the development and growth of SMEs and is represented at several boards/ committees in different states.

b. Abroad :

  • FISME is the only national body of SMEs that is working closely with United Nations Agencies as UNCTAD, UNIDO, ITC, ILO, UN-G77 CCI etc.
  • Besides, FISME has signed MoUs in 19 countries with counterpart SME associations in both developed and developing countries.
  • FISME has recently opened a representative office in Beijing with ICEC,

MAJOR INITIATIVES

Below are listed a few of FISME initiatives directed todevelopment of enabling business environment for Indian SMEs working in close cooperation with trade issues and sector related stakeholders:

a. Project partnerships with Multilateral and public institutions in India

  • UNIDO- Cluster Development Project
  • ILO- SAT
  • UNCTAD
  • UN-G77 Chamber of Commerce - Trade  Information Network
  • Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • Union Ministry of Science & Technology 
  • Office of Development Commissioner (Small Scale Industries) , Union Ministry of SSI
  • Small Industries Development Bank of India
  • Rajiv Gandhi Foundation
  • FNST (Germany)  
  • Indian Institute for International trade( IIFT)  

 
Tier- Partner for SME component of Project “ ‘Strategies and preparedness for trade & globalization in India’ 

FISME is Tier-I national partner and is implementing the SME component of the ambitious project. The project is being jointly sponsored by Ministry of Commerce, Govt of India; UNCTAD and DFID (UK). The project aims to strengthen human and institutional capacities among stake holders and to understand, analyse, keep track of and disseminate information as well as to provide a policy environment that will support and sustain a more equitable process of globalization.