Mamata government formulates plan to woo small-scale industries

To boost investment in the small-scale sector in the state and promote growth of the micro, small, and medium sector (MSME), the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government has launched a Scheme of Approved Industrial Park (SAIP).

Under this scheme, any private company can set up an industrial park under the clause of Special Purpose Vehicle in any part of West Bengal, with the government aiding that company by one-time grant.

"This scheme (SAIP) is aimed at increasing the participation of the private players in the state and any company wishing to procure land for the purpose of industry will be aided by the state government in term of a one-time grant", Raj Kumar Middya, the state joint secretary, MSME&T department, told IANS.

The MSME policy of government of West Bengal aims to increase the ancillarisation and vendor linkage of MSME from the present about two to 10 percent over the next five years with the government facilitating the process supported by a public procurement policy.

It may lead to increase the volume of the market of the MSME products by at least 25 percent.

The policy offers numerous subsidies and benefits for MSMEs ranging from interest subsidy to electricity facilitation to VAT refund.

The SAIP offers greenfield industrial parks which are scalable to build high growth regions across the state. The minimum land ceiling is 20 acres of land, acquired in accordance to state laws for SAIP.

-- Indo-Asian News Service

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