News & Events
June 27, 2020
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NCCF joins hands with the United Nations and Ministry of Micro-,Small and Medium Enterprises in celebrating the International Day of MSMEs on 27th June 2020

NCCF has joined hands with the United Nations and Ministry of Micro-,Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India in celebrating the International Day of MSMEs on 27th June 2020; Theme for 2020- COVID 19; The Great Lockdown and its Impact on Small Business.

The global pandemic, followed by a nationwide lockdown, has brought small and medium-sized businesses to a standstill. To bring the sector back on track, the Government of India recently announced an economic stimulus package and launched Atma-Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (ANBA). The Government is also considering various reforms and measures for the revival and long term sustainability of Medium, Small and Micro-enterprises (MSMEs). The MSME sector includes wood based industries, having immense potential to develop a green and self-reliant India.

NCCF welcomes this great  initiative of the Government of India. As  part of its policy advocacy role, NCCF held some consultation with experts and stakeholders on 25th June 2020 and it was decided to submit a background note with some recommendations for revival and long term sustainability of the wood based industries in India to the Ministries of Commerce and Industry (DPIIT), MSMEs, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Finance and Neeti Aayog for consideration. Some key recommendations are as under:

  1. Wood based Industries:
    a. Easing and scaling up of raw material availability and reducing import requirements
    b. Enforcing regulations across manufacturing units for sourcing, quality and technical standards
    c. Facilitating Sawmill Industry and Wood Processing Industry to ensure ready raw materials at competitive costs and of good quality
  2. Skill Development & Capacity Building for wood, plantation and supply chain related industries
  3. Updating the Government Policies as per the need of the hour:
    a. To have a uniform wood import policy enabling less imports
    b. Due Diligence, Responsible Sourcing, Forest Certification, etc. should find place in government’s procurement policies.
    c. Uniform transit and transportation policy PAN India
    d. For Formaldehyde emissions, a national scheme should be developed to cut down poisonous gases from the biggest building material, i.e. composite wood boards
    e. Recognize voluntary schemes and standards as co-regulation
  4. Certification, Standardization of Products and Procedures:
    a. Certification being an eligible activity under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Rules, 2018 , the Annual Plan of Operations (APOs) must have a component of certification
    b. Build / expand certified source of wood plantations in India.

On this day, NCCF , rededicates itself to promote sustainability of natural resources, the forests and trees outside forests through certification as an important tool of management and continue playing its role of policy advocacy for the revival and long term sustainability of wood based industries in India.