Development Institute to boost MSMEs in Punjab

To provide fillip to the industries in Punjab especially micro small and medium scale units (MSME), Development Institute (Ludhiana) is working on adopting cluster-based approach for the industries to foster together.

S S Dhillon, director (Punjab and Chandigarh) maintained he had engaged and identified 34 cluster across Punjab with whom he has working on the proposal of having common clusters set up.

“In last one-and-a-half years I have identified 34 clusters scattered across various parts in Punjab and is looking to bring the units under Cluster development Program of the MSME department. The idea behind promoting cluster of identical industrial units is to help them gain competitive advantage derived from the unified approach,” he said.

Dhillon added some 14 clusters in Punjab were in advance stages of cluster development scheme with few like in Mohali already gaining through soft intervention while few units have forwarded the proposals which includes Detail Project reports.

These proposals have been forwarded and MSME institute is working with other cluster as well. Earlier, to sensitise the industrialists in Punjab about the cluster development programme, “we engaged in talks with them to make them understand the importance of cluster”.

Once the cluster is formed it is easier to link them with other scheme like Market development Assistance scheme and Credit linked subsidy scheme for technology up gradation.

In coming years, MSME institute plans the clusters to work towards creating and promoting a single brand.

Instead of developing similar components and marketing them with different brand names , it is better if the units could come together and try and promote a single brand that would help them compete with others on the bigger platform.