MSME ministry to set up 500 incubation centres

In a bid to boost skill development and entrepreneurship, especially among the unemployed, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) is planning to set up 500 innovation centres and 18 tools rooms at cluster level and university levels.

In an interactive meet with all chambers and SMEs during the ninth mega industrial exhibition organised by Vadodara Chamber of Commerce & Industry (VCCI), Union minister of MSME, Government of India, Kalraj Mishra said that the ministry's focus will be on skill development among existing entrepreneurs and development of entrepreneurship among unemployed youth.

"The ministry's vision is to create as many entrepreneurs as possible. Under 'Make in India' campaign, we will aim for zero defect products through focus on technology and quality upgradation which is possible through skill development of existing entrepreneurs and creation of job givers instead of job seekers. For this we are setting up 500 incubation centres and 18 tools rooms at university and cluster levels," said Mishra.

Each of the tools room will cost roughly Rs 150-200 crore, the minister added.

Mishra also reiterated the government's emphasis on making procurement from SMEs mandatory for PSUs. "Of the total 337 PSUs, only 37 PSUs procure 20 per cent of their requirements from SMEs. The government is making it mandatory by April 2015 for all PSUs to procure 20 per cent from SMEs," he stated. Meanwhile, assuring support from the ministry and participants' concerns, Mishra said that attraction towards MSME should increase and efforts to the same would be made by the ministry.