626.   We thank the proponents for their submission in the document IP/C/W/675. MSMEs are important engines of innovation, growth, job creation, and social cohesion, and are therefore key economic actors in the effort toward climate-change mitigation and sustainable development. In India the MSME sector, through more than 8,000 products, ranging from traditional to high tech precision items, contributes about 45% to the total manufacturing output and 40% to the exports. The MSME sector has the potential to spread industrial growth across the country and can be a major partner in the process of inclusive growth. 627.   In March 2020, WIPO GREEN launched its new interview series, Women in Green featuring female innovators and green entrepreneurs. An Indian female entrepreneur and a design lead at PadCare Labs, a start-up company focusing on climate-friendly menstrual hygiene management was featured. The company invented Saneco – an eco-friendly sanitary napkin disposal and recycling unit – that uses a "5D" (disinfection, decolorization, deodorization, deactivation and disintegration) chemo-mechanical process, which decomposes a sanitary napkin within 30 seconds. The resulting by-product can be recycled as fuel or raw material for the paper industry. 628.   India has undertaken several initiatives for enhancing the contribution of IP in growth and development of MSMEs. In 2019, Government of India proposed a reduction in IPR registration fees for MSMEs and start-ups, to encourage more MSMEs to register their IPRs. Various road-shows are also being organized on 'IPR and National IP Policy' to appraise MSMEs about the benefits of IP filings. The Ministry of MSMEs has launched National Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme (NMCP) to improve the competitiveness of the MSME sector. One of the components of the Programme is "Building Awareness on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)" for the MSMEs. The initiatives under the Programme aim at increasing productivity, upgrading technology and conserving energy in the manufacturing processes, as well as expanding domestic and global market share of Indian MSME products. One of the main component of this Scheme is to provide financial assistance on grant of patent/ registration under geographical indications of goods/ trademarks. 629.   India strongly believes that Intellectual property is only one element in the larger innovation ecosystem and IP laws alone do not promote technological development. Innovation must be backed by means to make it affordable and ensure adoption.