The government has ticked off another agenda item of the CMP by setting up the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC). A deadline of September 15 has been given for the interface body, which is to be fully constituted under the ministry of Commerce and Industry. The body will have senior officials from government, public and private sector as well as academic institutions and industry associations.The Chairman of the Competitiveness Council is to be nominated by the PM before September 15.While giving final approval, the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) clarified that the NMCC should be set up before the Investment Commission and that there should be no overlap in the terms of reference of the two bodies. The announcement for setting up the Investment Commission was made in the FM’s budget speech while a commitment on the NMCC was made in the CMP.After a round of meetings attended by the PM, the Government has now outlined the role and functions of the NMCC. The following roles have been narrowed down.• Identifying problems facing priority sectors in terms of size, technology, modernisation and so on.• Evolving strategies for the manufacturing sector as a whole as well as individual industries for enhancing Competitiveness.• Helping create common infrastructure such as testing facilities, training institutes etc.• Providing a forum for dialogue between the public and private sector as well as the labour and academic sectors.The PMO has listed other diverse functions for the Council such as employment generation, entrepreneurship promotion, infrastructure and enabling facilities, trade and fiscal policies, among others.
