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International MSME Day: IFQM Calls for a National Quality Mission to Embed India’s MSMEs into Global Value Chains

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NEW DELHI, June 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As the world marks International MSME Day on June 27, India’s 7.47 crore Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises stand at the heart of the nation’s economic future. As stated in the Economic Survey 2025-26, with 31.1% of GDP, 35.4% of manufacturing output, and 48.58% of exports, MSMEs are the backbone of India’s growth story.Yet, as of 2024, India accounted for an estimated 2.9 per cent of the global manufacturing GVA and only 1.8 per cent of global merchandise exports. This paradox underscores why International MSME Day is not just symbolic—it is a call to action for India to transform scale into competitiveness and embed its enterprises into global value chains.

Since its inception in 2023, the Indian Foundation for Quality Management (IFQM) has championed a National Quality Mission to make Indian organizations globally respected. At the core of this mission is the MSME Cluster Development Approach, built on the IFQM Business Excellence Model – “The India Way.”

Suppliers begin with self-assessment and quality visits by IFQM counsellors, co-creating roadmaps with sponsoring parent companies.Year 1 focuses on fundamentals: Total Quality Management, Zero Defect Manufacturing, and Operational Excellence.Senior counsellors and subject matter experts conduct regular visits, guiding MSMEs on their “Good to Great” journey.

Since January 2025, IFQM has launched clusters with ZF, Bosch, TVS Motors, Tata Steel, Lucas TVS, Padmini VNA, Sundaram Clayton, and the Coimbatore region. The first ZF cluster has already completed its inaugural year, with suppliers reporting measurable gains in productivity, defect reduction, and operational discipline. IFQM calls this a “Journey of Excellence” — moving beyond small-q quality to embrace holistic business excellence (Big Q).

On the occasion of International MSME Day, Soumitra Bhattacharya, CEO & Director, IFQM, emphasized: “India’s economic momentum is undeniable, yet our global trade share remains below 2%. The missing link between growth and competitiveness is quality. Germany’s Mittelstand demonstrates how MSMEs can anchor exports through precision, systems, and supply chain discipline. India’s 7.47 crore MSMEs must embrace the same ethos. At IFQM, we are equipping leaders with actionable frameworks—daily work management, continuous improvement, and adherence to global benchmarks. India’s opportunity will not arrive by default; it must be secured through rigor and excellence. Quality is the lever that will position India as a trusted global partner.”

Building on this foundation, IFQM convened its first MSME Symposium at Anna University, Chennai on March 20, 2026. Captains of industry from Biocon, TVS, Boeing, Motherson, Maruti Suzuki, Cummins, L&T, Bosch, ZF, and Deloitte engaged MSME leaders on quality, competitiveness, and digital transformation. The symposium addressed India’s growth-competitiveness paradox head-on, presenting actionable frameworks, global benchmarks, and transformation case studies.

Five flagship initiatives were unveiled to move MSMEs from aspiration to execution:

Cluster Development Programme to benchmark MSMEs against world-class standardsIFQM Quality Excellence Prize (QEP) — India’s first industry-led excellence award designed for smaller enterprisesLeadership Development Course through the IFQM AcademyZero Defect Manufacturing Course with SRM IST, Chennai and CIT, ChennaiExcellence in Manufacturing Engineering Course with VelTech University

About IFQM

The IFQM Governing Council: Mr. N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons; Mr. Dilip Sanghvi, Executive Chairman, Sun Pharmaceuticals; Dr. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairperson, – Biocon Group; Mr. TV Narendran, CEO & MD, Tata Steel Limited; Mr. K.N. Radhakrishnan, Director & CEO, TVS Motor Co; Dr. Randhir Thakur, CEO & MD, Tata Electronics Pvt. Ltd; Mr. Salil Gupte, President, Boeing India & South Asia; Mr. SN Subrahmanyan, Chairman & MD, Larsen & Toubro; Mr. Venu Srinivasan, Chairman Emeritus, TVS Motor Co & Chairman, IFQM; Mr. Vivek Chaand Sehgal, Chairman, Motherson Group.

IFQM on Web: https://ifqm.org.in/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ifqm

For more information, please contact:

Suman Nath

Brevanta Communications suman@brevanta.in, info@ifqm.org.in

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China Xplained | The China Squeeze, or the China Opportunity?

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GUANGZHOU, China, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — This is a news report from South: 

Is China’s manufacturing rise squeezing out or creating opportunities for other economies?

Ahead of the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in China this November, journalists and experts from around the world gathered in Guangdong for the Asia-Pacific Media Forum (APMF) 2026.

The forum opened in Shenzhen on September 5, bringing together more than 400 representatives from across the Asia-Pacific region, as well as from international organizations.

Before the opening of the forum, participants travelled across Guangdong to see China’s industries and development first-hand.

In this episode of China Xplained, we look at the numbers, supply chains, investment and voices from across the developing world—to ask a bigger question: Is China squeezing out room for other economies?

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SOURCE South

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PUDU D7 Named Honoree in IFA Innovation Awards for Best in IFA Next & Emerging Technologies

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BERLIN, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Pudu Robotics, a global leader in commercial service robotics, today announced that its PUDU D7 Semi-humanoid Intelligent Robot has been named an Honoree in the Best in IFA Next & Emerging Technologies category of the IFA Innovation Awards. The recognition highlights PUDU D7’s ability to combine mobile navigation, dexterous manipulation and intelligent sensing to perform a range of tasks in real-world industrial and commercial environments.

The IFA Innovation Awards recognize outstanding innovations across the global technology landscape. Entries are evaluated by an independent international jury based on criteria including technology and functionality, innovation and originality, and the potential to create tangible value for users and the market. The recognition places PUDU D7 among emerging technologies demonstrating new possibilities for the future of robotics.

From Industrial Operations to Guest Interaction

PUDU D7 is designed for industrial, warehouse, retail and hospitality environments, where it can move through human-oriented spaces and perform tasks that require both mobility and dexterous manipulation.

In industrial and warehouse settings, D7 can handle materials, pick items from shelves, replenish inventory, transport goods between work areas and push carts. With a payload capacity of up to 20 kg (44.1 pounds) and an operating height of up to 2 meters (6.6 feet), it can work with a range of storage systems and materials.

In retail, D7 can support shelf replenishment, item handling and store organization, moving products between storage areas and shelves and helping maintain product displays.

In hotels and hospitality, PUDU D7 can take on the role of an intelligent front-desk host, welcoming guests, preparing and serving coffee, interacting with visitors and providing engaging experiences. Its semi-humanoid form and dual-arm capabilities allow it to combine practical service tasks with natural human-robot interaction, bringing a more personable and engaging presence to the guest experience.

Designed for Adaptable Performance

PUDU D7 combines a dual-arm manipulation system, tactile sensing and a 360-degree perception system to support these applications. Front- and rear-facing LiDAR and other sensors enable navigation around people and obstacles, while tactile sensing provides precise control when handling objects.

The robot also features autonomous battery swapping, allowing it to independently replace its battery and reduce downtime during extended operation.

Together, these capabilities enable D7 to support different tasks across a range of environments without being limited to a single application.

PUDU D7 Makes Its European Debut at IFA

IFA 2026 marks the first time PUDU D7 is being showcased in Europe. At the Pudu Robotics booth, visitors can experience live demonstrations highlighting the robot’s capabilities and its potential for human-robot interaction.

D7 interacts directly with visitors through demonstrations including waving, making heart gestures and picking up objects. These demonstrations showcase the robot’s ability to combine movement, manipulation and interaction in a human-oriented environment.

Advancing the Next Generation of Intelligent Robotics

The IFA Innovation Awards recognition marks another step in Pudu Robotics’ expansion from service delivery, commercial cleaning and industrial delivery into embodied intelligent robotics.

PUDU D7 is part of Pudu Robotics’ broader strategy to develop a portfolio of specialized, semi-humanoid and humanoid robots, building on its capabilities in embodied navigation, manipulation and interaction. This approach enables the company to address a broader range of applications across commercial and industrial environments.

Pudu Robotics will continue working with customers and partners worldwide to explore new applications for embodied intelligence and bring increasingly capable robots into real-world environments.

About Pudu Robotics

Pudu Robotics is a global leader in commercial service robotics and the industry’s first company to offer a full portfolio spanning specialized, semi-humanoid, and humanoid robots. According to Frost & Sullivan’s latest market report, Pudu Robotics ranks No. 1 globally in commercial service robotics by both revenue and shipment volume. Built on its One Brain, Multiple Embodiments architecture, Pudu offers robots for service delivery, commercial cleaning, industrial delivery, and general embodied AI applications across hospitality, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, education, public services, and more. To date, Pudu Robotics has shipped over 130,000 robots to customers across 85+ countries and regions.

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SOURCE Pudu Robotics

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Asia-Pacific Media Forum held in China’s Guangdong

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SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from Xinhuanet: 

The Asia-Pacific Media Forum opened on Saturday in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, with the theme of “Building a Path to Shared Prosperity for the Asia-Pacific Community: Media Consensus and Action.”

Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the forum and delivered a keynote speech. Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, attended the forum and delivered a speech.

Participating guests noted that this year marks 2026 APEC “China Year,” during which China will host the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. They expressed their belief that with support from all sides, the summit will yield fruitful outcomes and elevate Asia-Pacific cooperation to new heights.

Participating guests emphasized that development and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region depend on the active participation of media. The media are expected to share stories of openness and integration, provide comprehensive coverage of the region’s progress and achievements across various fields, and help foster a favorable public opinion environment for the region’s open development.

Participating guests noted that the media should actively promote outcomes of the series of APEC activities, interpret policies and measures of various economies to support scientific and technological innovation, and build regional consensus for innovative development.

They also called for deepening results-oriented cooperation in joint reporting, technological innovation and personnel training, and leveraging media exchanges to carry forward civilizations, spread culture and convey goodwill, so as to enhance mutual understanding and closer bonds among the peoples of the Asia-Pacific.

The forum was co-hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, Xinhua News Agency and the Guangdong provincial government, and organized by the Shenzhen municipal government.

More than 400 representatives from over 40 countries and regions, as well as UN agencies and international organizations, attended the event. At the opening ceremony, 16 founding organizations from China and abroad jointly formed the Organizing Committee of the Asia-Pacific Media Partnership Program.

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