Cycle manufacturers join hands to fight stiff competition
Facing stiff competition from Chinese and Japanese markets, all rival cycle manufacturers in city have decided to join hands to bring an improvement in the bicycles manufactured here.
Facing stiff competition from Chinese and Japanese markets, all rival cycle manufacturers in city have decided to join hands to bring an improvement in the bicycles manufactured here.
To make the industry more competitive, the industrialists have come on one platform on the initiative of United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).
For this purpose, those engaged in cycle and parts manufacturing industry have formed a 50-member team of Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called Bicycle Research and Development Organisation (BRADO) that would ensure implementation of the project.
Manjinder Singh Sachdeva, president SPV said, “As part of the process to bring about an improvement in the aesthetics of the end products in the bicycle industry here, UNIDO has sanctioned an amount of Rs 7.5 crore to the SPV and only some formalities are left for disbursement of funds. The members of SPV will contribute Rs 75 lakh under the project.”
“Work will be done on improving the aesthetics of bicycles manufactured here. Though, the project is still in its initial stage, the executive committee of the SPV will meet in the coming days to decide about the other formalities required for the go ahead with the project,” he said.
He felt that bicycles manufactured in India were much better in quality as compared to those manufactured in China and Taiwan, but attractive look of the bicycles manufactured there hurt the prospects of the Indian industry.
“Though, big cycle manufacturers have the capability to compete with those attractive foreign-made bicycles, the problem lies with the parts manufacturers who are not in a position to work on these aspects. Big manufacturers also use parts manufactured in these units, which affects the end product,” he said.
UNIDO project director in India, Mahender Singh Dhakad, when contacted said, “The project has been sanctioned by India-based office of UNIDO and has been sent to the ministry of industry and commerce for final approval, which is expected soon.”
“Under the project research will be done on improving the quality of bicycles manufactured in Indian industry. We will also organise a training programme for the industry and will take industry people to other countries which are ahead of Indian manufacturers in technology,” he said adding that they would be uplifting the existing facilities in an institute in Punjab to execute the project.
General secretary of SPV and president of United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association, Gurmit Singh Kular said the UNIDO project would help the industry in several aspects.
“The state of the industry can be gauged from the fact that several parts such as gears, detailers are not being manufactured in India. These are being imported mainly from China and Japan. Even not too many industries are manufacturing alloy rims. The industry was manufacturing high-end and lightweight bicycles. The project will help in improving these aspects,” he said.
