Avinash Kirpal has been with IMI since June 01, 1999. His area of interest is development of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly related to exports. At the macro level: institutions, policies and infrastructure for promoting exports of products and services supplied by SMEs. At the micro level: what individual SMEs can do to internationalise their businesses, including upgrading management effectiveness through training  and coaching.

Kirpal was in the Tata Administrative Service and worked in various Tata companies in different positions. As Regional Director and Vice-President of Tata International he was responsible for developing exports of products supplied  mainly by SMEs. Later he was Secretary General of the Montreal based World Federation of Trading House Associations.

During the last ten years, as Advisor: Programs for development of SMEs at IMI he has undertaken international consultancy assignments in several countries in the area of SME development for the International Finance Corporation, the United Nations Development Programme, the International Labour Organisation and the International Trade Centre . Also he is Editor of IMI’s quarterly Newsletter – Interface.  He designs management training programs especially for SMEs

Books

R.Badrinath & Avinash Kirpal,  1998.,  The SME and the Export Development Company. The  International Trade Centre, Geneva. ISBN. 92-9137-080-0. Translated into French and Spanish

Journal Articles
 
 
Avinash Kirpal, (2004)., Every team needs a coach.

  The Economic Times, 12/1/04, , pp  7
 

Avinash Kirpal and Jane Linklater, (2000)., CORPOTATE CHANGE COMES FROM WITHIN. 

The Business Standard, 5/1/2000, , pp  8
 

Conference Proceedings
 
 
Avinash Kirpal,  (2002).,  International marketing of products made by SMEs  Strategic Partnering among small industries. Organised by GIFT. Sponsored by SIDBI.  Hyderabad. pp 21-31 of the Conference Proceedings
 

Kirpal designed and directed a long duration training program for the CEOs of artisan-owned companies incubated in crafts clusters by an NGO supported by Fabindia, the Ford Foundation, the ICICI Bank and a venture capital fund. The program was in 13 modules of five days per month. It provided exposure to general management and led to the preparation of  Business Plans for presentation to investors.