CICU Presents Detailed Report at Cluster-Level Workshop on “Cost & Competitiveness of MSMEs in India”

Ludhiana, October 30, 2025: The Office of the Development Commissioner (MSME), Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Government of India, organized a Cluster-Level Workshop on “Cost & Competitiveness of MSMEs in India” at the MSME-DFO Auditorium, Ludhiana. The session was chaired by Dr. Rajneesh, Additional Secretary and Development Commissioner (MSME).
The workshop was part of a national initiative to gather feedback from MSMEs and key stakeholders to develop effective policy measures aimed at reducing costs, improving productivity, and enhancing the global competitiveness of Indian MSMEs. It follows a three-tier consultative model—Cluster Level, Zonal Level, and National Level—to ensure a bottom-up approach that accurately reflects the ground realities of the sector.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Rajneesh emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to creating a supportive ecosystem for small and medium enterprises by focusing on reducing financial and operational costs, promoting competitiveness through technology, innovation, and quality enhancement, and strengthening policy mechanisms to make MSMEs more resilient to global market challenges. He also underlined that Ludhiana, being one of India’s largest MSME manufacturing hubs, holds a crucial position in the national supply chain, particularly in the production of hand tools, machine tools, bicycle parts, and textile machinery components.
During the workshop, Upkar Singh Ahuja, President of the Chamber of Industrial & Commercial Undertakings (CICU), delivered a comprehensive presentation on the cost and competitiveness challenges faced by MSMEs in Ludhiana and Jalandhar, especially in the Hand Tool and Emerging Power Tool Manufacturing Cluster. He highlighted the urgent need to simplify financial access and reduce collateral requirements, ensure the availability of affordable steel and energy, streamline regulatory procedures and compliance frameworks, establish cluster-level logistics and testing facilities, and introduce quality certification subsidies along with awareness of new Quality Control Orders (QCOs).
Ahuja further urged the Ministry to consider Punjab as a pilot state for implementing a cluster-based “Cost Reduction & Competitiveness Enhancement Programme,” aligning with the Make in India and Viksit Bharat 2047 visions.