GUWAHATI, Jan 20 - The National Vendor Development Programme � MSME Expo-2017 � organized by the MSME Development Institute, Guwahati under the Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME), Government of India, in association with the Department of Industries and Commerce and Laghu Udyog Bharati (NER) got under way at the Maniram Dewan Trade Centre today.
The two-day event, aimed at showcasing the capabilities of the MSME sector in various wings of government organizations such as Railways, CPSUs, State PSUs and other large-scale private enterprises that outsource from micro and small enterprises, is witnessing large-scale participation including from SBI, SIDBI, KVIC, NHPC, NTPC, Coir Board, GAIL, Railways, Indian Air Force, Indian Army, CRPF, NRL, APDCL, ASIDC, etc.
The event was formally inaugurated by Union Minister of State for MSME Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary, in the presence of Assam Industries and Commerce Minister Chandramohan Patowary and a host of dignitaries including leaders from trade and industry.
Asserting that Assam was poised for a sustainable industrial growth and that the Centre would provide it every assistance for the purpose, Choudhury said that the Centre was committed to ushering in an industrial revolution in Assam and the rest of the North-east.
�Modi is the only Prime Minister who has ensured that the region figures prominently in the Centre�s scheme of things,� he said.
Patowary, in his speech, stressed the need for continuance of the North East Industrial and Investment Promotional Policy (NEIIPP) which is set to expire in March this year. �This is needed in the greater interest of industrialization in the region,� he added.
He added that the NEIIPP would mainly benefit the small and medium industries and its continuance, therefore, was necessary.
Announcing that two parks for small and medium industries would soon be set up in the State, Patowary said that facilitating enhanced growth of trade and industry would trigger an economic turnaround besides generating mass employment.
�Small and medium industries hold the key to expediting economic growth and generating employment. These industries are labour-intensive and cost-effective. They can maximize production with less investment besides generating employment. Another advantage is that the products of small and medium industries are mostly sold locally,� he said.
Among those who attended the inaugural session were Sanjib Gupta, Regional Head, SIDBI; Om Prakash Mittal, national president of Laghu Udyog Bharati; Ravi Capoor, Additional Chief Secretary, Assam, and BL Agarwalla, president, Laghu Udyog Bharati (NER).
In tomorrow�s session, Central PSUs and State departments will interact over purchase policies and buying procedures. Aspiring MSMEs will benefit from the event, the organizers said.
The Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs)-2012 has made it mandatory to purchase a minimum 20 per cent of procurement of annual requirement of goods and services by all Central ministries/CPSUs from the micro and small enterprises.