FOURTH MEETING OF NATIONAL BOARD FOR MICRO, SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES HELD

The Government has taken various steps for promotion of micro and small enterprises in the country, particularly the first generation entrepreneurs through Entrepreneurship Development Programmes. This was stated by Shri Mahabir Prasad, Minister for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) while chairing the Fourth Meeting of the National Board for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (NBMSME) in New Delhi on 12^th March, 2008. The main agenda for the fourth meeting of the NBMSME was Establishing of Entrepreneurship Development Institutes by State Governments and issues of concern for MSMEs.   Shri Prasad said, Entrepreneurship Development is one of the key elements for promotion of micro, small & medium enterprises and is a major means for inclusive growth. The Minister said, to undertake and facilitate this task on a regular basis, the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises has set up three national level Entrepreneurship Development Institutes (EDIs). Besides, the Ministry has also been implementing an important scheme, viz., Scheme for Assistance for Strengthening of Training Infrastructure and new Entrepreneurship Development Institutes.  Under this scheme a maximum of one crore rupees assistance is given to new Entrepreneurship Development Institutes as also to existing institutes. Expressing satisfaction that the General Budget 2008-09 has made a provision of Rs.2,000 crore Risk Capital Fund for Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), the Minister said that some more proposals would be taken up during the budget discussions. 

Some of the Members raised the issue of extending collateral free loans upto Rs.5,00,000 to the MSME Sector (both manufacturing and services enterprises) to which Shri Prasad said the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had already issued a circular on 21^st September 2007 to all scheduled commercial banks that they should extend collateral free loans up to Rs.5,00,000 to the units of MSME Sector as defined under MSMED Act 2006. RBI advised all scheduled commercial banks to issue necessary instructions to the branches/controlling offices in this regard, the Minister added. Some of the Members raised the issue of steel price hike, which was affecting the micro and small industries. The Minister assured the Members that the issue would be taken up at the appropriate level.  

Representatives of MSME Associations and Trade Unions, from all over the country and senior officials of various ministries from the central as well as the state governments participated in the daylong deliberations.