QCI, NSIC join hands to boost MSME quality, market access

New Delhi: QCI and NSIC on Thursday signed a five‑year Memorandum of Understanding to build a unified support ecosystem aimed at strengthening quality, competitiveness and market access for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The agreement pairs the Quality Council of India’s accreditation and certification expertise with the National Small Industries Corporation’s expansive MSME outreach to accelerate adoption of global standards and scale digital commerce opportunities.

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Key national initiatives will be integrated under the partnership, including the MSME Sustainable (ZED) Certification Scheme, MSME Global Mart, the TEAM Initiative and NSIC’s Single Point Registration Scheme (SPRS). The collaboration targets wider uptake of Zero Defect Zero Effect (ZED) certification, improved digital market access via MSME Global Mart and onboarding to the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) through the TEAM Initiative, plus AI‑enabled product cataloguing and export promotion on dedicated platforms.

The MoU also envisages technical strengthening: support for NABL accreditation of NSIC testing facilities, NABET‑led assessment and customised capacity‑building programmes for NSIC training centres and laboratories, and closer convergence between ZED certification and SPRS to streamline benefits for certified firms.

To oversee implementation, the two bodies will form a Joint Coordination Committee with representatives from both organisations, meeting quarterly to monitor progress and identify new collaboration areas over the MoU’s five‑year term.

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The signing took place at QCI’s World Trade Centre office in New Delhi and was attended by NSIC Chairman‑cum‑Managing Director Dr. Subhransu Sekhar Acharya; QCI’s Dr. A. Raj (Senior Director and Head, NDIE); NABL CEO Dr. Ramanand N. Shukla; NABET CEO Dr. Varinder S. Kanwar; and senior officials from both organisations.

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