MSME Sector to play a key role in ‘Make in India’ campaign

The Dollar Business Bureau “The government will support MSME Clusters for global competitive manufacturing through setting up of 15 new Technology Centres with World Bank assistance, augmenting the 18 existing TCs with new technologies and testing facilities,” Minister of State, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Mr Giriraj Singh. As MSMEs are important part of several values chains, it is expected that they will play an important role in the Government’s ‘Make in India’ drive. The Minister said that his Ministry will rise to the challenge through action plans directed at enhancement of the provision of collateral free credit through creation of state verticals for extending guarantees to the entrepreneurs of particular state with financial support from state governments. Creation of similar verticals for women entrepreneurs and youth among SC/ ST and NE Regions is also being planned, he said. Stating that augmentation of 18 existing TCs is to be supported by cluster network Managers and a National Portal, the Minister said that efforts are on to bridge the gap between Research Institutions and Industries through signing of MOUs with IISc and CSIR. Defence offset policy is being leveraged for creating ecosystem of defence manufacturing by MSMEs. A comprehensive skill mapping is also proposed as a first step towards alleviating the existing skill deficit. All these efforts are very much in synergy with Zero Effect Zero Defect manufacturing plan.  Development of MSMEs will be focused on both rural and urban areas depending upon the potentiality of the area. Efforts are being undertaken for the development of MSMEs in rural areas through implementation of Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Khadi Grant, Workshed Scheme for Khadi Artisans and Mahila Coir Yojana etc; the Minister concluded.  

This article was published on February 26, 2015.