Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have called upon the Government to come out with a reservation policy for procurement of MSME products manufactured in the State by the large- scale industries, PSUs and Government departments.
The Centre, in its Public Procurement Policy for MSME-2012, provides for procurement of 20 per cent of the requirement of the Central Government departments and PSUs from the MSME sector.
“We expect our Government to come out with such a reservation policy for the State agencies and PSUs. Purchase of any product from outside the State should be discouraged if qualitative products are available locally and supplied in time. This would go a long way in promoting the MSME sector and facilitating its growth and development”, Odisha Industries Association president Abani Kanungo said here on Tuesday.
The demand was made at the National level Industrial Exhibition-cum-trade fair ‘Enterprise Odisha,’ organised by the MSME Development Institute, State MSME department, Central Tool Room and Training Centre and Odisha Industries Association.
The three-day long industrial fair was inaugurated by Industries Minister Niranjan Pujari. Around 30 PSUs, large-scale industries, and Government organisations along with 50 MSMEs are taking part in the fair. The fair aims at showcasing local MSME products and providing them with a much-needed platform to connect with buyers. It would also project various Central schemes that support local MSMEs to upgrade their product ranges and match buyers’ needs.
Industries Minister Pujari asked the large-scale industries and public sector enterprises to adopt a cooperative approach towards the MSME sector and lend a helping hand in their growth and development.
IDCOL CMD T Ramachandru suggested creation of a platform involving all mother plants, commercial banks, promotional agencies and MSMEs to come together and discuss problems and issues to find out solutions. Among others, Executive Director, IOCL, Paradip M Vijaywagia, Director, MSMEDI, Alok Ray, Cuttack MLA Debasish Samantray and General Manager, CTRTC, S Maity spoke.