The government is rolling out policy interventions and new schemes to further strengthen micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which play a vital role in the country's economic growth, Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, told ANI on the sidelines of a FICCI event.
Policy Interventions and New Initiatives
Epao said the ministry is introducing policy measures alongside schemes and initiatives designed to bolster MSMEs. She emphasized the sector's importance to national growth without providing specific details on the new policies.
GIFT Scheme for Green Manufacturing
Highlighting the ministry's focus on sustainable manufacturing, Epao noted that the Green Investment and Finance and Technology (GIFT) Scheme is aimed at helping MSMEs transition to greener energy and cleaner production processes. "As we move towards the 2030 goal, we see that MSMEs have to also now transit to greener energy so that our processes become cleaner and cleaner. We are helping the MSMEs with this," she said.
Industry 4.0 and Workforce Training
On technology adoption, the ministry is supporting Industry 4.0 through its Technology Centres and the National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (NIMSME), where the workforce is trained on modern machines and technologies to create an industry-ready workforce.
Proposed MSME Export Centre
Epao announced that the proposed MSME Export Centre at NIMSME in Hyderabad has been approved but is yet to be implemented, with an expected operational timeline of around two years. The centre will act as a one-stop facility for MSMEs, providing guidance on export documentation, overseas markets, product standards, and certification requirements. "Although export is a domain of the Commerce Ministry, we also feel that since MSMEs contribute almost 50 per cent of the country's exports, there should be one centre where it should be a go-to place for the MSMEs to learn the documentation, where the markets are available for their products and what standards and certifications are required," Epao explained.
Leveraging FTAs and BRICS Opportunities
The ministry also wants MSMEs to leverage opportunities from India's Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and multilateral platforms such as BRICS. Referring to the BRICS SME Forum held in Agra last month, Epao said deliberations highlighted significant export potential for Indian MSMEs in BRICS member and partner countries.
Support for First-Time Exporters
The Joint Secretary said the ministry is supporting first-time exporters by reimbursing Export Promotion Council registration fees, export insurance premiums, and product certification costs to help MSMEs enter international markets.
Collaboration with CSIR and International Exhibitions
The ministry is collaborating with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on technology-related initiatives for MSMEs. Additionally, it facilitates MSME participation in international exhibitions and trade fairs abroad, enabling enterprises to showcase products, connect with buyers, and expand global outreach.
Over 2,000 Recommendations from MSMEs
The ministry has compiled over two thousand recommendations received from MSMEs and industry bodies and is in the process of examining them. "We collected a whole lot of things and we brought it and then we sifted through those. We put it in several baskets and now we have around 2,000 odd recommendations that are coming from our MSMEs," Epao said. However, she clarified that the exercise has not yet been finalized at the national level, and it is too early to announce any policy decisions based on the recommendations.
Epao said the ministry is continuing to work on the exercise, which is aimed at supporting the government's focus on strengthening India's manufacturing base.
