Title: A review of SME clusters and the need for cluster branding in India

Authors: Manmeet Bhamra; Kaushal Kishore; Sanjay Pal

Addresses: School of Petroleum Management (SPM), Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU), Gandhinagar, Gujarat-382006, India ' Faculty in Marketing and Energy Studies, School of Petroleum Management (SPM), Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU), Gandhinagar, Gujarat-382006, India ' Department of Business Development Services and National Outreach and Incharge, Department of Developing Economy Engagement, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), P.O. Bhat, Gandhinagar, Gujarat-382428, India

Abstract: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are considered to be one of the main driving forces of economic development in emerging markets. SMEs in India have gained importance in the recent past due to globalisation and the constantly changing business environment. SMEs contribute a lot in economic development as they create employment opportunities and support the government in achieving higher growth rates. Additionally, SMEs also help an economy to do better in international trade. It is evident from the literature that significant work has been done on cluster management globally but not much work is done in the context of clusters in India with a focus on SMEs. Considering the importance of branding in almost every sector, authors tried to analyse the work done on cluster branding in India on SMEs through extensive literature review. The study is an endeavour to investigate the need and process of cluster branding to make SME clusters more efficient in India and the emerging markets.

Keywords: small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; clusters; SME clusters; cluster brand management; COVID-19; cluster branding; promotion of SMEs; strategic collaboration.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2024.135218

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2024 Vol.51 No.1, pp.19 - 38

Received: 16 May 2020
Accepted: 23 Nov 2020
Published online: 03 Dec 2023 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article