Geete says MSMEs yet to come forward for tech acquisition

Union Minister Anant Geete today said the government has so far not received any proposals from medium, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to acquire global technology.
"We have initiated a scheme for providing financial assistance to small and medium industries which wish to acquire global technology to become competitive. We have made an allocation of Rs 50 crore for this. However, we have not yet received any proposals," Geete told reporters here.
To enable domestic SMEs in the capital goods sector to match up to the global competition, the government last year sanctioned a pilot scheme with provision of Rs 930 crore, of which Rs 580 crore will be provided by the Centre and the balance by a consortium of industry bodies.

The government also proposed to create centres of excellence for technology development at IITs in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kharagpur, and at CMTI in Bangalore, with allocation of Rs 312.5 crore.
To provide an integrated industrial infrastructure facilities park for machine tool near Bangalore, the government has allocated Rs 400 crore, while Rs 61.2 crore have been earmarked to create two common engineering facility centres.
The Centre has also proposed to allocate Rs 100 crore for testing and certification centres for construction equipment and earthmoving machinery.
"The government is ready to provide all the necessary assistance to the industry. Even if it requires making amendments in the existing policies, we are ready," the minister for Heavy Industries said.

"We want to put more emphasis on research and development to become more indigenous," he said.