Registered MSMEs in TN employ 6.3 million people

The number of registered micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Tamil Nadu was 9,68,000 units as on March 31, 2014, and they have given employment to 6.318 million persons. So far these units have invested around Rs 67,000 crore and produce more than 6,000 products. The 2006-07 all-India data showed that of the total registered MSMEs in the country, 14.95 per cent are registered in Tamil Nadu. They contribute 40 per cent of the state's total exports, the state minister for MSMEs said recently.

To boost the sector, in the last three years the state government has made 54 major announcements relating to the MSME sector in the state, of which 53 were implemented immediately, the minister said.

He noted that the state government's Vision 2023 envisions the creation of 15 lakh direct jobs through the MSME sector in 12th Five Year Plan. In the first two years (2012-13 and 2013-14) of the plan 682,100 jobs were created, the minister said.

In May last year Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had announced that the state government would establish 20 industrial estates for this sector. So far it has given its nod for the setting up of 15 such estates and construction has also started.

The government proposes set up the new industrial estates through the Small Industries Development Corporation (Sidco), which is already operating 97 estates, and it was proposed to create a land bank of around 2,000 acres. So far 1,168 acres have been procured in 14 districts, and of this land parcels totalling 540.5 acres have been handed over to Sidco in eight districts.