Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, July 20: Indian Institute of Foreign Trade at its Delhi Campus has set up an Incubation Cell called “KITTES” (Knowledge for Innovation in Trade & Technology for Entrepreneurial Start-Ups) with the active help of Mitsubishi Corporation India Pvt Ltd (MCI) and Metal One Corporation India Pvt Ltd (MOI).
Kalraj Mishra, Minister of MSME inaugurated the Cell in the presence of Masakazu Sakakida, CMD (MCI) & Yoshihija Fujiwara, CMD (MOI) while the function was presided over by Dr Surjit Mitra, Director & VC, IIFT. The inauguration was attended by a large number of Ambassadors/ High Commissioners, members of diplomatic corps.
Kalraj Mishra insisted on the role of incubation cell at IIFT to impart training to MSME units towards developing “Zero defect” products from this segment and take “Make in India” brand to the global markets. He insisted on support to the centre through Ministry of MSME Schemes like LBI, TBI and ASPIRE.
“KITTES will be unique as we bring collective innovation and international experience to the table”, said Dr Mitra during his address which he concluded by saying “KITTES will fly like a kite and would help export start-ups take their first fly to newer heights.” Sakakida from MCI said, “KITTES will help MSMEs to improve their products and export them to international markets by using the expertise provided by this centre”. Fujiwara from MOI said “It’s a comprehensive hands on learning experience for entrepreneurs.”
“Although the initiative is being inaugurated in Delhi, the developmental activities of this centre will be extended to the state of Himachal and other Hilly Region through our newly set up Regional Centre for MSME at Shimla and to the Eastern and North Eastern Zone through IIFT Kolkata centre”, said Dr K Rangarajan, Head Centre for MSME Studies as well as Head IIFT-Kolkata Centre.
KITTES will be different from incubation cells existing at IITs and IIMs across India as the focus will be on the export of goods and taking a leap into international markets. “Using a different technology, applications and product market identification websites will be created for MSMEs that will not only help in export mapping of the international markets so as to obtain benefits of FTP, but also take care of all the FTAs involved”, said Dr Chaturvedi.
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