Odisha has fared well in creating job opportunities in the MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) sector among its peers.
The state is ranked among the 10 leading states in the country in terms of employment generated by the MSME sector, according to Union ministry of MSME's annual report for 2012-13.
As many as 3.32 million people are employed in the MSME sector in Odisha. About 0.173 million are employed in the registered sector and 3.15 million are engaged in the unregistered sector.
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The other leading states in terms of employment in MSMEs are Uttar Pradesh (9.23 million employees), West Bengal (8.578 million ), Tamil Nadu (8.09 million), Andhra Pradesh (7.069 million), Maharashtra (7.04 million), Kerala (4.96 million), Gujarat (4.77 million), Karnataka (4.672 million) and Madhya Pradesh (3.36 million).
However, the state did not feature among the top 10 leading states in terms of number of enterprises.
There are about 1.57 million MSME units operating in the state out of which 1.53 million units are in the unregistered sector and the balance being in the registered sector.
It may be noted that enterprises registered with district industries centres in the states/ Union territories, Khadi and Village industries commission ( KVIC)/ Khadi and Village Industries Board, Coir Board (as on March 31, 2007) and factories under the coverage of Section 2m (i) and 2m (ii) of the Factories Act 1948 used for Annual Survey of Industry having investment in plant and machinery up to Rs 10 crore were considered to belong to the registered sector.
Similarly, the enterprises engaged in the activities of manufacturing or in providing/rendering of services, not registered permanently or not filed entrepreneurs memorandum (EM) with state directorates of industries/district industries centers on or before March 31,2007are classified as unregistered enterprises.The top states in terms of number of MSME enterprises are Uttar Pradesh (4.403 million units), West Bengal (3.664 million), Tamil Nadu (3.313 million), Maharashtra (3.063 million), Andhra Pradesh (2.596 million), Kerala (2.2 million), Gujarat (2.178 million), Karnataka (2.02 million), Madhya Pradesh (1.933 million) and Rajasthan (1.66 million).
It may be noted that the state government is keen to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) to facilitate credit linkage for MSMEs (micro, small & medium enterprises) in the state.There are 26 DICs and five RICs in the state.

