Report by the Secretariat: III. Trade policies and practices by measure: (4) Measures affecting production and trade: (v) Government procurement: Para. 232:
According to paragraph 232, India retains preferential treatment for micro and small entreprises (MSEs). What are the criteria used by India to define MSEs? Does India consider that the concept of "Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is different from the definition used for qualifying an activity or an enterprise as a MSE? Switzerland considers that a GPA Membership offers to SMEs interesting potential opportunities to participate in activities related to government procurement and to create activities, jobs, technologies, research and networks. Does India share this view?
Reply: Section 7(1) of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006 categorized the enterprises into manufacturing and services, which are further classified as micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) based on the investments in "plant and machinery" and in "equipment" respectively. MSMEs participate in Government procurement in India and MSMEs registered with NSIC are provided facilities/benefits that assist them in marketing their products. The actual market access in GP markets abroad is yet to be assessed and analysed, and only thereafter can the potential opportunities be actually tapped.
