Guj announces Purchase Policy with focus on SMEs sector

The Gujarat government today announced it's Purchase Policy-2016', having special focus on providing level playing field to small, micro and cottage industries in the state.
Another focus of the policy, announced by Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, is to increase employment opportunities in this sector, as they would now be given preference by state departments while procuring various items.
As per the policy, departments will have to purchase only those items which are produced in India.
If any item, which the government wishes to procure, is not produced in India, then the concerned department can buy an imported item with prior approval of department's secretary, an official release said.

To encourage small, micro and cottage industries registered in the state, government has announced that such units are now exempted from paying tender form fees as well as Earnest Money Deposit(EMD) while taking part in the government bidding, it added.
This relief is also applicable to government recognised institutions working for betterment of the visually impaired, deaf and mute people as well as for those working for mentally challenged children, stated the release.
In addition, such eligible units will be given benefit of 10 per cent price difference in comparison to the bidding price quoted by large and medium units for a government floated tender.

Under this policy, departments have been clearly instructed that all the direct purchases, which are made without floating a tender, must be made from such eligible units or from those which are run by government, including self help groups, jails and various government corporations, such as Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation and Gujarat State Handloom and Handicraft Development Corporation, it said.