Union MSME minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi on Thursday called upon the Assam industries and commerce minister Chandra Mohan Patowary at Janata Bhawan in Guwahati.
Minister Patowary said that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) is a dominant sector in the industrial scenario of Assam.
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He also stated that it contributes maximum employment generation with minimum capital and is a major contributor to the State’s economic growth.
As a special category state, minister Patowary requested minister Sarangi to enhance the Centre and State’s funding ratio to 90:10 from the present ration of 80:20 and increase the amount for infrastructure development in MSME sector from Rs 10 crore to Rs 20 crore for Assam.
He also requested the union minister to consider including the approach road to industrial infrastructures and enhancing the project completion period from two years to three years.
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Matters related to MSME schemes like tool room, extension centre, PMEGP, industrial infrastructure improvement etc were discussed in detail.
Minister Sarangi assured all help to expedite and sanction the State’s projects pertaining to MSME in the areas of entrepreneurship skill development, procurement and marketing support, setting up of incubation centre on food processing etc.
The Union Minister quoted Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy that production by masses should replace mass production.
He advocated for handicraft and khadi industries to boost rural economy and ensure generation of employment, especially for women and youths.
He also called upon the State Government to popularize organic farming and promote value addition of spices to fetch higher prices at the international markets.
Commissioner and secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, Dr K K Dwivedi apprised the union minister of the export of fruits and vegetables from Assam to Dubai, Singapore and European countries.
Commissioner and secretary, Skill, Employment & Entrepreneurship, Ashutosh Agnihotri; commissioner, Industries and Commerce, S S Meenakshi Sundaram; MD, AIDC, Virendra Mittal and other officials were present in the meeting.