M'lore: National Conference on Small and Medium Enterprises at SDM College
Pics: Keerthi Mangalore
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RS/CN)
Mangalore, Feb 20: The national conference on ‘Small and Medium Enterprises—Engine of Growth’ was held at SDM College of Business Management and Post Graduate Centre for Management Studies and Research on Saturday February 20.
The one-day conference focused on the scope of small and medium scale industries and saw experts in the field acting as resource persons for business management students.
The conference had three technical sessions and helped the delegates brush up their potential with future goals. The speakers emphasized the wide scope of small and medium scale industries in India as well as the need for students to open up their future to entrepreneurship.
Dr G V Rao, advisor, UNESCO, Paris, economist Dr K U Mada, Dr Ananthapadmanabha Achar, reader of MIM, Manipal, Dr C Manohar, executive director and dean of IBMR International Business School, Bangalore, Prof Leelavathi, department of economics, Mysore University, Dr T Prasad, faculty advisor (EDC) NITIE, Mumbai, and Latha Kini, industrialist, Mangalore, were among the resource persons at the technical sessions.
The first technical session on the topic ‘Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Between Reality and Ambition- Issues and Challenges’, was presided over by Dr Mustiary Begum, professor and chairperson, department of business administration, Mangalore University.
In this session, resource person Dr Mada focusing his talk on present issues of industry said that the recent international meltdown will teach a lesson to future entrepreneurs. He said that good behavioral practices as well as management skills are essential for running industries.
Dr Padmanabha Achar said that the country has huge scope for small and medium scale industries and the central and state governments need to give more importance to the development of such industries.
In the second session, presided over by Aloysius Sequira, department of humanities, social sciences and management in NITK, Suratkal, resource person Dr C Manohar and Prof Leelavathi presented talks on ‘Role of Small and Medium Enterprises in Inclusive Growth’.
Resource persons Dr T Prasad and Latha Kini presented their talk on ‘Sustainable Innovations for the Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises Sector’. The session was presided over by K Jayaraj Pai, president, Canara Small Industries Association, Baikampady.
In the concluding session, Dr G V Rao focused on the good qualities of an entrepreneur in his talk on development of leadership and management skills.
“Knowledge, skills, and professional qualities as well as the capacity to understand the situation are among the various qualities of leadership in the business sector”, he said adding that managing skills leads the business or industry to success whereas keen observation of each development is needed in small and medium scale industries.
The concluding session was presided over by B R Bhat, general manager, Corporation Bank. Shankar Bhat, Mayor of Mangalore City Corporation, was the guest of honour.
Inaugural Session
The conference was inaugurated by Susir Kumar, chief executive officer and managing director, Intelnet Global Services, Mumbai. Speaking on the occasion, he said that in the next two years the export market of India will cover a major part of the small and medium enterprises as India has seen a growth of 35 percent last year.
“There are more people in recent years who are concentrating on their own business and with this, the small and medium scale industries are getting more importance”, he added.
“The small and medium scale industries are next to agriculture and there is a need to create a good environment with the culture of entrepreneurship in India. The students of business schools should follow the example of businessmen who have succeeded in starting business though minimum investment and grown large”, said Kumar.
Gautham Ghate, managing director, Magnum Intergraphics Ltd, Bangalore, inaugurating the industrial consultancy cell, said that the industry needs proper infrastructure such as power, roads and availability of resources such as raw material.
Dr T Prasad, faculty advisor (EDC), NITIE in Mumbai, inaugurated the entrepreneurship development cell and released a brochure. He advised the students to establish their entrepreneurial skills during the course which will gain them experience before getting into a business venture.
The inaugural session was presided over by Dr Devaraj K, principal and director, SDM Business Management College. Savitha, MBA faculty and organizing secretary of the conference, welcomed all.
Student co-ordinators Deepak Maroli, Pratheeksha Pai, Akshith, Neethi Nityananda, and Sanketh Shetty were also present. Seema Shenoy conducted the programme and Deepti Nayak proposed the vote of thanks.
A cultural programme by students was held at the end of the event.