APPLICATION FORM

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR APPOINTMENT OF

THE TECHNICAL AGENCIES FOR CLUSTERS
Sr.

Particulars

Details

No.
1

Name & full postal

Apex Cluster Development Services Private Limited

address of the agency

B-35, First Floor,

with PIN code, STD code,

Shahpur

Fax/Tel. No., e-mail ID

Tel. No.: 9811070056

Leela House, Fashion Street,

Jat,

New

Delhi-110049

E-mail ID: rajveers@hotmail.com

2

Year of registration

website: www.indianclusters.org , www.clusters.org

2004

(Please enclose the

Annexure: 1

certified copy of the

3

registration certificate)
Legal Status of the

Private Limited Company

Organization
Year of Commencement

2004

of Operation (Total

(Years of Experience: 10 years and 5 months)

number of years of
Experience as on
5

31.03.2015)
Brief profile of the

APEX CLUSTER DEVELPMENT SERVICES PVT. LTD.

agency along with

(ACDS) was founded in the year 2004 with the

organizational chart

objective of MSME empowerment through Local

Economic Development approach. Over the past few
years ACDS has emerged as an expert cluster
development,

research

and

consultancy

organization. ACDS has intensively worked in formal

and informal sectors
conducting

and has been involved in

diagnostic

studies,

DPRs

for

infrastructure development & CFCs, action research,

grass root level implementation of business plans,

baseline mapping and evaluation studies of different
programmes of international studies and various
government schemes. ACDS is well represented at
major artisanal, handicraft, handloom and
within

India

like

Chanderi,

locations

Maheshwar,

Agra,

Banaras, Pipli, Puri, Pune, Tirupur, Chennai, Mysore,

Hyderabad,

Ludhiana

and

Delhi

NCR

cluster

Gurgaon, NOIDA, Faridabad. ACDS has worked with

various private and government agencies like SIDBI,
MPRLP, MSME Ministry, World Bank, Sequa GmbH,
DFID, Nokia, GiZ, Microsoft etc. Besides strong
presence in industries sector, ACDS is Associate
Member of FICCI-CMSME and has worked with over
100 associations, 200 SHG and 50 informal networks
of artisans and craftpersons.
Following are the main service areas of ACDS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Cluster development
BDSP empowerment
MSME empowerment
Action Research
Policy Support
Informal Sector Development - Handicraft &

No. of Offices in Non NE

Handloom
7. Rural Development
8. Urban Development
9. ICT and E-governance
10.Skill development & Livelihood creation
Annexure -2
No. of offices in Non NE States: 5

States and NE States

No. of offices in NE States: 1

with detailed information.

Head Office
(Name of contact persons Apex Cluster Development Services Pvt. Ltd.
B-35, First Floor, Leela House, Shahpur Jat
with postal address, STD
New Delhi 110049
Code, Fax/Tel. No., e-mail, Email: info@indianclusters.org
Contact Person: Mr. Rajveer Singh
web site, if any,)
Contact No. 981107056

Apex Cluster Development Services Pvt. Ltd.

460/2, Kallampilakkal,
Vadapuram Post,
Malappuram Dist.,
Kerala 676542
Email: shabeer@indianclusters.org
Contact Person: Mr. Shabeer Ahammed
Contact No. 9656992077
Apex Cluster Development Services Pvt. Ltd.
559 F-Block, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar,
Pakhowal Road, Ludhiana-141002
Email: prarana@indianclusters.org
Contact Person: Ms. Prarana Kapila
Contact No. 9915780354
Apex Cluster Development Services Pvt. Ltd.
24, Vishwakarma Society
Near Jivraj Park Cross Roads
Jivraj Park, Ahmedabad - 380051
Gujarat
Email: darshiit@indianclusters.org
Contact Person: Mr. Darshiit Vaghela
Contact No. 9662303779
Apex Cluster Development Services Pvt. Ltd.
343, Avas Vikas Colony, Mahadev Jharkhandi,
Kunraghat, Gorakhpur -273008
Uttar Pradesh
Email: sudhir@indianclusters.org
Contact Person: Mr. Sudhir Kumar Prajapati
Contact No. 7080331988
Apex Cluster Development Services Pvt. Ltd.
Prince Enclave, 1st Bye Lane, Mother Teresa
Road,
Zoo Narengi Tinali, Guwahati-781021
Assam
Contact Person: Mr. Shantanu
Contact No. 9435148693
7
(i)

Past experience in Cluster development:

Experience in Cluster
1. Diagnostic Study Report : Sualkuchi Silk Cluster
development till
31.3.2015 including
conducting DSR for

for CSTRI, Central Silk Board , Government of

India
2. Diagnostic Study Report: Srinagar Silk Cluster for

decentralized sector may

be furnished (submit in
an Annexure if any)

CSTRI, Central Silk Board , Government of India

3. Diagnostic Study of Bhilwara Ceramic Cluster for
Imperial Tex Industrial Park Pvt. Ltd., Bhilwara
4. Cluster Level Intervention Programme (CLIP) in
Ludhiana

Knitted

Apparel

Cluster

for

Small

Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI),

New Delhi
5. Mapping of Non-financial Gaps in Select MSME
Clusters; namely (i) Tirupur Knitwear Cluster, (ii)
Ludhiana Knitwear & Apparel Cluster, (iii) Pune
Food Processing Cluster & (iv) Noida-Gurgaon
IT/ITES Cluster for Small Industries Development
Bank of India (SIDBI), New Delhi
6. Implementation
of
Business

Development

Services Programme in 3 MSME Clusters namely;

(i)

Tirupur

Knitwear

Cluster,

(ii)

Ludhiana

Knitwear & Apparel Cluster & (iii) Pune Food

Processing

Cluster

for

Small

Industries

Development Bank of India (SIDBI), New Delhi.

Doing diagnostic study, preparing the action and
implementation of the action plan.
7. Project Vikas in 11 MSME Clusters in India aimed
at

improving

Entrepreneurs

ICT
in

usage

by

business

MSMEs

operations

and
for

Microsoft India Pvt. Ltd. in association with NMCC,

Government of India
8. Profiling & Primary Survey of Ayush Clusters for
Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare Government of India
9. Capacity Building of Entrepreneurs to develop an
Integrated

Textile

Park

(ITP)

in

Bangalore

Garments Cluster in Karnataka for IL&FS

10.Providing legal framework and institution building
development plans for craft clusters Surat Zari,
Moradabad Art Metalware & Sikandra Stone
Clusters for IL&FS
11.Capacity Building of Entrepreneurs to develop an

Integrated Textile Park (ITP) in Bellary Jeans

Cluster in Karnataka for IL&FS and formation of
SPV
12.Preparation of a comprehensive cluster based
development strategy for SME and artisan based
clusters in Rajasthan for IL&FS
13.Evaluation of Cluster Development Initiative in

(ii)

Details of experience in
similar activities till
31.3.2015

the state of Odisha for UNIDO

Annexure-3
1. Study on the Constraints and Opportunities
Facing Odishas Handicraft and Handloom Sector
for World Bank, New Delhi
2. Uttar Pradesh Pro-Poor Tourism Development
Project: Assessment of the artisanal sector of
Agra, the Braj region and Buddhist Circuit for
World Bank, New Delhi
3. Study on Economic Profile of NCR for National
Capital Region Planning Board, Ministry of Urban
Affairs, Govt. of India
4. Mapping of Technological
Product

Process

Modernization

Innovation

in

Pune

and
Food

Processing Cluster for GIZ, Germany

5. Capacity Building of BMOs: Awareness Workshop
cum Support Clinics on Public Support Schemes
for Sequa GmbH, Germany
6. Conducting Awareness Workshop (Sensitization
Programme)

cum

Support

Clinics

on

Public

Support Schemes for GIZ, Germany

7. City Cluster Economic Development for National
Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) India, sponsored
by ADB
8. MPRLP Wooden Toy Clusters Skill Inducement for
Madhya Pradesh Rural Livelihood Project funded
by DFID
9. Strategic promotion of

NOKIA TEJ in Textile

Clusters in the area of logistic and supply chain

management through mobile based application
for NOKIA

List of Major activities

and Clients lists

1. Diagnostic Study of Bhilwara Ceramic Cluster

Assessment of factor conditions of the cluster

(Enclose work order of

like infrastructure, raw material, technology,

the client for last five

power/

years and Annual Report

conditions like branding, quality certification

of 2014-15)

energy,

finance

and

marketing

etc.
Assessment of vital statistics of the cluster,

like output, employment, exports etc.

Primary Survey and
Focused

Discussion with stakeholders in the cluster

Mapping key issues in the cluster; especially

Group

related to infrastructure bottlenecks

Drafting and suggesting an Action Plan
2. Cluster Level Intervention Programme (CLIP) in
Ludhiana Knitted Apparel Cluster. Main activities
include;
Awareness programme on energy efficiency
measures and government & SIDBI schemes,
including preparation of Knowledge Capsule of

schemes
Programme on Quality Control and Quality

Assurance
Pilot Energy Audit programme
Training on Advanced Knitting and Weaving
Practices in the Cluster and seminar on

Technology up gradation
Preparation of action plan for Promoting Brand

Ludhiana as a Co-Brand by units in the cluster

Preparation of technology improvement

strategy for the cluster

Designing action plan for skill inducement

cum up gradation strategy for the cluster

3. Mapping of Non-financial Gaps in Select MSME
Clusters; namely (i) Tirupur Knitwear Cluster, (ii)
Ludhiana Knitwear & Apparel Cluster, (iii) Pune
Food Processing Cluster & (iv) Noida-Gurgaon
IT/ITes Cluster for Small Industries Development

Bank of India, New Delhi; Main activities consist

of:
Diagnostic Study of these clusters,
Conducted primary survey and hold meetings
with key stakeholders in each cluster to

understand their respective issues

Proposed Action Plan for all the clusters to
resolve

their

issues

and

improve

their

performance
4. Diagnostic Study Report : Sualkuchi Silk Cluster ;
major activities include:
Assessment of factor conditions of the cluster
like infrastructure, raw material, technology,
power/ energy, finance and existing marketing

linkages
Situational analysis of the cluster through

secondary online research

Assessment of vital statistics of the cluster,

like output, employment, exports etc.

Primary Survey and
Focused

Group

Discussion with stakeholders in the cluster

Mapping key issues in the cluster
Drafting an Action Plan
5. Diagnostic Study Report : Srinagar Silk Cluster ;
Main activities include:
Assessment of factor conditions of the cluster
like infrastructure, raw material, technology,
power/ energy, finance and existing marketing

linkages
Situational analysis of the cluster through

secondary online research

Assessment of vital statistics of the cluster,

like output, employment, exports etc.

Primary Survey and
Focused

Group

Discussion with stakeholders in the cluster

Mapping key issues in the cluster
Drafting and suggesting an Action Plan
6. Study on the Constraints and Opportunities

Facing

Odishas

Handicraft

and

Handloom

Sector ; Main activities include:

Data compilation and analysis of production
and employment in all the crafts in the state

of Odisha
Identifying ten major crafts in the state based
on data statistics, government priorities and
other measures for detailed analysis of the

crafts and their issues

Identification of key products in the crafts,
followed by present condition of product

diversification and new design development

Socio-economic profiling of crafts and profiling

of artisanal clusters in the state

Analysis of present condition of tools used,
raw

material

procurement

and

credit

accessibility of the artisans

Analysis of existing social capital in craft
clusters, like SHG/ Cooperatives/ Association

formation and participation by the artisans

Situational analysis of existing institutional
cum formalization structure in craft clusters,
especially

how

they

are

organized

and

working
Analysis of HDI of the craft clusters in the
state

and

Central

&

State

Government

initiatives in the state craft

Analysis of marketing linkages and sales

channel in each craft

Value Chain Analysis and process flow in each

craft
Identification of Issues across the value chain

and suggesting an action plan to resolve them

7. Uttar Pradesh Pro-Poor Tourism Development
Project: Assessment of the artisanal sector of
Agra, the Braj region and Buddhist Circuit ; Main
activities include:

Assessment of tourist inflow to artisanal

clusters in Agra, the Braj Region and Buddhist

Circuit, thus benefiting the crafts & artisans

Mapping existing marketing infrastructure in
craft clusters, attracting tourists and helping

build market linkages

Assessment of Value Chain Analysis and

product process flow dimensions

Socio-economic profiling and assessment of
accessibility to credit, raw material, tools of

artisans
Analysis of existing social capital, working
structure

and

formalization

among

the

artisans
Mapping of existing issues & constraints in
craft business operations, especially related to

marketing infrastructure and networks

Drafting and suggesting action plan for the

crafts
8. Study on Economic Profile of NCR ; Main activities
include:
Complete profiling of National Capital Region
by mapping the economic indicators of the
region by segregating all the districts and sub

regions
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Per Capita
Income (PCI) estimation of the region and
segregating it sub-region wise and district

wise and analysis of its trends over the years

Assessment of workforce in the region by
segregating it sub-region wise and district
wise based on four category workers data as

per 2011 census

Assessment of industrial sector of the region
by

mapping

the

number

of

units

and

segregating it as Small Scale Industries (SSI)

and

Medium

&

Large

Industries

(L&M),

industrial employment and output, sub region

wise and district wise

Mapping & profiling

of

key

industrial,

handicraft and service clusters in the region,

SWOT analysis of the clusters

Assessment of informal sector and rural sector
economic activities and establishments in the

region
Mapping

key

segregating

issues
it

in

the

sub-region

region

and

wise

and

recommending suggestion for the improvising

the conditions
Suggested over hundred projects in the region
aimed at technical skill inducement and up
gradation, creation of Common Facility Center
for food processing, textile and other allied
industries,

infrastructure

creation,

rural

development etc.
Also included mapping of existing state level
policy regulation of the NCT of Delhi, Uttar

Pradesh, Haryana & Rajasthan

9. Mapping of Technological Modernization
Product

Process

Innovation

in

Pune

and
Food

Processing Cluster ; Main activities include:

Assessment of sample firms / units in the
cluster

to

understand

their

technology

condition
Explored areas of improvement in the units/
cluster like improvement of shelf life of the
product,

improvement

in

packaging

standards, quality control measures, product

processing,

raw

fruits

and

vegetable

segregation etc.
Preparation of one pager report of technical
assessment of all the firms/ units selected in

the course of the study, including their

bottlenecks

and

resultant

inefficiency

in

operations
Recommendation to resolve the technical
drawbacks including tie ups with German
technology

providers

(BDSPs)

and

also

designed multi operation projects in cluster

10.Capacity
Building
of
BMOs
(Industrial
Associations): Awareness Workshop cum Support
Clinics

on

Public

Support

Schemes

Main

activities include:
Conducted awareness workshop/ seminars on
DC-MSME schemes for MSMEs and Industrial

Associations
Onsite and offsite support and guidance to

association and its members for schemes

Facilitation of MSME members in availing

schemes
11.Conducting Awareness Workshop (Sensitization
Programme)

cum

Support

Clinics

on

Public

Support Schemes ; Main activities include:

Conducted awareness workshop/ seminars on
DC-MSME schemes for Industrial Associations

and member MSMEs

Onsite and offsite support and guidance to

association and its members for schemes

Facilitation of MSME members in availing

schemes
12.Implementation

of

Business

Development

Services Programme in 3 MSME Clusters namely;

(i)

Tirupur

Knitwear

Cluster,

(ii)

Ludhiana

Knitwear & Apparel Cluster & (iii) Pune Food

Processing Cluster ; Main activities include:
More than 300 activities including workshops,

events, pilots, vouchers were conducted

Established linkage between BDSPs

and

MSMEs in areas like quality control, training,

skill

development,

certification,

energy

conservation and marketing

Conducted programs on Sensitization and
capacity building programs with a focus on

improving the BDS market in the clusters

Various training modules were introduced to

enhance technical skills of manpower

13.Project Vikas in 8 MSME Clusters in India aimed at
improving

ICT

usage

by

MSMEs

and

Entrepreneurs in business operations ; Major

activities include:
Diagnostic study of clusters
Assessment of ICT usage by cluster as a
whole, by units individually and entrepreneurs

in business operations
Mapping main deterrent in using ICT as a tool

of competitiveness and operational efficiency

Devising cluster specific actions plans to
overcome the issues both through soft and

hard interventions
Organized over 100 workshops, seminars and
ICT training programmes for MSMEs and

entrepreneurs in the cluster

Creation of Independent Software Vendors and
their Networks (ISV) with MSMEs in the cluster

to establish a linkage between the two

Establishment of Common Facility Center to
improve ICT usage in the form of E-readiness

centers in clusters run by SPV

14.Profiling & Primary Survey of Ayush Clusters ;
Main activities include:
Assessment of clusters based on location of
operation, employment level, type of cluster,

cluster evolution;
Investigating history of the cluster and its
then present economy that included demand
and factor condition analysis, firm strategy

rivalry and social capital existence

15.City Cluster Economic Development ; Major
activities include:
Analysis of Sectoral, Economic & Spatial
development
surveys,

of

NCR

mapping

based

and

on

other

Primary

secondary

information.
Analysis of Sectoral Clustered Competitive
Advantage in NCR in general engineering,
auto-components, and textile clusters and
holding

cluster

workshops

&

New

Delhi,

Bangladesh.
Assessment

of

major

agglomerations

taken

place

metropolitan

at

level

cities

international
Dhaka

and

industrial
in

(particularly

identified
Delhi)

in

various manufacturing and service industries.

Preparation of baseline information, basic
data, industry structure, value chain & spatial

locations;
Organizing workshop cum seminars, analysis
of investment opportunities and then conduct
a pre-feasibility study of a selected action
plan for marketable inter-sectoral project for
garment industry cluster on a long & medium

term and analyzing short term agendas.

16.MPRLP Wooden Toy Clusters Skill Inducement ;
Major activities include:
Analysis of skill gap in the cluster and
bottlenecks faced by the tribal people making

toys
Organized training programme for artisans /
workers in making fine wooden toys so that
they attain sustainable livelihood and work

opportunity
17.Capacity Building of Entrepreneurs to develop an

Integrated

Textile

Park

(ITP)

in

Bangalore

Garments Cluster in Karnataka; Major activities

include:
Capacity building of entrepreneurs in the
cluster to prepare them participate in the

process of development of ITP

Promoting Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to
implement and manage the implementation

of ITP
Mobilizing the necessary contribution from the
members

towards

participation

in

their
the

commitment

project

and

for
land

acquisition
18.Providing legal framework and institution building
development plans for craft clusters Surat Zari,
Moradabad Art Metalware & Sikandra Stone
Clusters; Major activities include:
Visit clusters and have interactions

with

cluster stakeholders
Validate findings of the diagnostic study
related to legal framework and institution

plans
Provide

domain

related

plans

to

project

coordinator, which was part of the overall

business plan for the cluster

Provide need based inputs

to

project

coordinator
19.Capacity Building of Entrepreneurs to develop an
Integrated Textile Park (ITP) in Bellary Jeans
Cluster in Karnataka; Major activities include:
Capacity building of entrepreneurs in the
cluster to prepare them participate in the

process of development of ITP

Promoting Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to
implement and manage the implementation

of ITP
Mobilizing the necessary contribution from the

members

towards

participation

in

their
the

commitment

project

and

for
land

acquisition
20.Preparation of a comprehensive cluster based
development strategy for SME and artisan based
clusters in Rajasthan ; Major activities include:
Study of cluster based development strategies
in states like Kerala, Gujarat and Andhra

Pradesh
Development of cluster development policy

and strategy for Rajasthan

Formulation
of
suitable

schemes

for

development of SME and artisan clusters in

Rajasthan
Mapping of major SME and artisan clusters in

Rajasthan
Preparation of cluster maps of Rajasthan

clusters
21.Evaluation of Cluster Development Initiative in
the state of Odisha ; Major activities involved:
Evaluation of new marketing channels
evolved for artisans and institutionalization of

links
Evaluation of new product introduction and
design

development

and

its

process

institutionalization
Mapping role played by the implementing
agency in creating social capital and the

nature of resource sharing

Mapping the efforts made by implementing
agency

towards

skill

improvement

and

productivity within the cluster

Mapping the efforts made by implementing
agency to build credit linkages and use of

credit facilities
Evaluation of the sustainability element of the
implementing agency towards carrying on the

activities further for the progress of the

cluster
Mapping of best practices in implementing

cluster development initiatives

22.Strategic promotion of NOKIA TEJ in Textile
Clusters in the area of logistic and supply chain
management through mobile based application ;
major activities include:
Evangelizing of the application by sensitizing
the

MSMEs

by

organizing

seminars

and

awareness workshop
Strategic marketing through organizing pilot

programme in select textile clusters

23.Conducting diagnostic study of Hoshiarpur
Tractor Part Cluster
Mapping various factor conditions of the
cluster

like

technology,

infrastructure,
power/

energy,

raw

material,

finance

and

marketing conditions like branding, quality

certification etc.
Assessment of vital statistics of the cluster,

like output, employment, exports etc.

Primary Survey and
Focused

Discussion with stakeholders in the cluster

Conducting stakeholders validation workshop
Mapping key issues in the cluster; especially

related to infrastructure bottlenecks

Drafting and suggesting an Action Plan for soft

Group

and hard interventions in the cluster

Clients
1. Small Industries Development Bank of India
2.
3.
4.
5.

(SIDBI)
The World Bank Group
Asian Development Bank
CSTRI, Central Silk Board
National Capital Region Planning Board

(NCRPB)
6. National Institute of Urban Affairs, Ministry of

Urban Development
7. District Industries Centre, Hoshiarpur
8. Dept. of Panchayati Raj, Govt. of Madhya
Pradesh
9. Ministry of MSMEs, Govt. of India
10.United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP)
11.United Nations Industrial Development
Organisation (UNIDO)
12.GIZ, Germany
13.Sequa GMBH, Germany
14.Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
15.Associated Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (Assocham)
16.Microsoft Corporation India Pvt. Ltd.
17.Nokia India Pvt. Ltd.
18.Infrastructure Leasing & Finance Services Ltd.
(IL&FS)
19.ADD Industrial Group, Bengaluru
20.Strategic Planning & Management Services
Pty Ltd.
21.Imperial Tex Industrial Park Pvt. Ltd., Bhilwara
9

Whether the agency is

Annexure-4
NO

graded /rated by any

competent authority/
professional agency, if
10

so, give details

Availability of total

manpower/ Experts on
regular pay role of the

Annexure-5

organization (Bio-data of
subject/specialized
personnel should be
11

enclosed in an Annexure)
Technical staff and

Resource persons on
regular payroll (Details in
a separate Annexure)

Annexure-6

12

Proposed time
schedule for
completion of the
Cluster:
i) Period for making

1 month

preliminary
arrangements
ii) Period for preparation

2 weeks

of pilot Action Plan

iii) Field work, Data

1 month

collection &

13

documentation
iv) Submission of DSR

2 months & 4 months respectively

and DPR (Draft & Final)

Details of the following
a) Service Tax Number (if

AAFCA1251PST001

any)

Annexure-7 (a)

(Please enclose certified

copy)
b) TAN & PAN Numbers (if

AAFCA1251P

any)

Annexure-7 (b)

(Please enclose certified

14

15

16

copy)
Details of application

DD Number 200825 dated 11/9/2015

fees Bank D.D. No./

for Amount Rs. 2000/-

Date/ Amount/ Bank:

ICICI Bank

Details of Governing

Mr. Rajveer Singh

Council/ Managing

Ms. Mansi Choudhary

Committee/ Board

Ms. Apoorva Choudhary

Members. (Enclosed list

Mr. Avinash Ganpatrao Joshi

of M.C. Members)
Any other information

Annexure-8

about the agency with

Annexure-9

attested copies of
supporting documents

Signature of Authorized Person:

Name: Rajveer Singh
Designation: Managing Director
Seal: