K'taka plans separate secretariat for SMEs

The Karnataka government will create a secretariat for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the state to facilitate speedy redressal of their grievances, minister for small-scale industries Raju Gowda said.

He said the cabinet had taken a decision in this regard and the formal notification would be issued soon. The government has also raised the capital limit of SMEs from Rs 3 crore to Rs 15 crore and speedy clearance through the single window, he said while addressing the national vendor development seminar at MSME Development Institute here recently.

Gowda also expressed his desire to provide a rebate on trade licensing, setting up of industrial estates in each district headquarter like the one in Koppal. He also emphasised on the cluster development approach for MSMEs for its development to evolve into a global leader. He also spoke of the government’s initiatives in the port development in Mangalore and Karwar to facilitate industrialisation.