Odisha urges Centre to set up MSME varsity in state

The state government has urged the Centre to establish the latter's proposed MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) University in Odisha.

"We are requesting the Centre to set up the proposed university here. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has already written to the Centre upgrade the Institute of Entrepreneurship Development (IED) at Bhubaneswar to this status," said Panchanan Dash, secretary, MSME department at an Investors meet on 'Food Processing in Odisha's organised on the occasion of second Odisha MSME International Trade Fair-2014.

"We will also place the proposal before the secretary, Union ministry of MSME, who will be visiting the state on January 7," he added.

Odisha has about 1.5 million MSMEs providing employment to about 3.3 million people. About 74 per cent of these units are located in the rural areas. The state ranks among the top ten states with a share of 4.92 per cent of the total MSMEs in the country as per the fourth census of such units.

Others in the top ten lists are Uttar Pradesh (11.24 per cent), West Bengal (10.47 per cent), Tamil Nadu (9.16 per cent), Andhra Pradesh (7.50 per cent), Maharashtra (7.27 per cent), Gujarat (6.55 per cent), Kerala (6.51 per cent), Madhya Pradesh (5.79 per cent), and Karnataka (5.60 per cent).

To give boost to the MSME sector, the state government has created a separate department and formulated a dedicated policy in 2009.

The Odisha MSME Development Policy, 2009 aims at broad basing the growth of MSMEs with emphasis on employment generation, revenue augmentation, exports and realising the full potential of the sector in the state.

The other focus areas of the policy include promotion of entrepreneurial spirit amongst the educated youth, providing financial incentives for setting up new units, growth of existing units, identification and revival of sick units, etc.