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In the increasingly knowledge-driven
economy, emerging trends are key consideration in day-to-day business decisions.
New products, technologies and creative designs appear almost daily on
the market and are the result of continuous human innovation and creativity.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are often the driving force behind
such innovations. Their innovative and creative capacity, however, is not
always fully exploited as many SMEs are not aware of how these emerging
trends can help and safeguard them. To help SMEs more fully utilize the
emerging trends in their business activities, they need to know more about
them.
World Trade Organisation (WTO)
An Organisation
formed on 1.1.1995 of 135 Member nations which is the culmination of GATT Negotiations
which is Rule based. The basic principles of WTO are:
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Non discrimination between countries: the MFN treatment
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Freer trade: gradually through negotiations
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Predictability: through bindings
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Promoting competition
Intellectual Property Rights ( IPR)
A right given over a creation of the mind and to exclusively exploit it
for a certain period of time. There are two types of IPRs:
- COPYRIGHTS - works of authors, performers
- INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY RIGHTS - protection of distinct
signs, protection to stimulate production
ISO 9000
ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) is responsible for the promotion and development of international standards and related activities, including conformity assessments such as testing, inspection, laboratory accreditation, certification and quality standards.
The ISO 9000 series standards have been adopted by some 45 countries and its equivalent standard in the Indian context is the Bureau of Indian Standards' (BIS) 14000 series. In the United States, the series is known as the ANSI/ASQC Q 9000 series.
SIDO provides an scheme on quality upgradation/environment management for small scale sector, the application format to fill up the form to register as ISO 9000 certified unit.
INSME
In the "Bologna Charter on SME policies" adopted in June 2000, Ministers and Representatives of Governments of countries participating in the first OECD Ministerial Conference on SMEs welcomed Italy’s offer to finance and promote the carrying out of a feasibility study, including a need assessment, to define the potential design and development of an International Network for SMEs (INSME).
NATIONAL PROGRAMMES
SIDO in collaboration with UNIDO has undertaken National programmes for development of selected sectors namely Toy, Stone, Machine Tools, Hand Tools & Lock in India. The estimated cost of these National programmes is USD 6.6 Million.
BARCODING
Bar Coding is a series of parallel vertical lines (bars and space), that can be read by bar code scanners. It is used worldwide as part of product packages, as price tags, carton labels, on invoices even in credit card bills. The bar code become unique and universal and can be recognized anywhere in the world.
A Presentation on Barcoding using International Numbering Standard gives a brief information on the subject.
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