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Experts stress on transfer of technology in SMEs
KATHMANDU, NOV 13 - Speakers at a programme today said that transfer of technology in small and medium enterprises, (SMEs) whose contribution in the national income is undeniably high, is instrumental to economic transformation of the least developed countries (LDCs) like Nepal.
"It is more true in Nepal’s case, as SMEs constitute about 90 percent of the total industrial establishment," said Hari Bahadur Basnet, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies.
SMEs in Nepal contribute about 80 percent of the total industrial employment and over 50 percent in the industrial GDP.
The promotion of the SMEs is a prominent approach to sustainable development, said inaugurating a two-day national seminar on "Technology Transfer for SMEs in LDCs".
He indicated the use of traditional technology and moderate production along with lower degree of cost effectiveness as major constraints prevailing in the SMEs. "Technology transfer can happen only when the technology is used," said Basnet, further stating that stakeholders in the many LDCs are still not very clear about technology transfer.
Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada, member of National Planning Commission (NPC) said that SMEs, which are able to mobilise local technology and local resources, currently, suffer from the lack of market access, technology, finance and information.
Underlining foreign direct investment and transfer new technology instrumental to boost up the national economy, he asked the entrepreneurs to discuss if opening of industries like carpets and handicrafts to foreign investment help upgrading the SMEs technologically.
He also stressed on a need to review the existing education system and change the learning system for the development of entrepreneurial human resources and enhancing capacity of entrepreneurs.
Bhawani Prasad Dhungana of ESCAP said that effective transfer of technology calls for human resource development, empowerment of men and women making them an inclusive part of development process.
Highlighting the regional experiences, he said that countries, which were able to develop capacity for technology transfer benefited a lot, while those that failed to do, so remained with higher poverty and unemployment.
"Poverty and unemployment are crushable only through concerted national efforts and Nepal needs to work out to introduce reforms in policy and service delivery mechanism, among others to expedite the process," he said.
Binod Bahadur Shrestha, President of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), meanwhile, said that the efforts to make SMEs cost effective and competent has largely limited on the papers of national plan.
"The government should come up with specific programmes and policy supports to develop the SMEs," he said.Posted on: 2003-11-12 09:00
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