“Need to frame strategic policy to encourage knowledge-base skill development, technology up-gradation in SME sector”
– Narendra Modi
Gandhinagar, Saturday: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today called for framing strategic policy with renewed focus on need-based skill development, technological up-gradation and research in Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector to successfully compete in the global market.
Addressing the SME Convention on the second day of 6th Vibrant Gujarat Global Investor Summit (VGGIS) at Mahatma Mandir here, he said that although small scale industries have established their competence in the manufacturing sector beyond doubt but have lately not received due importance they deserved except some halfhearted piecemeal efforts.
Mr. Modi said that SME sector in India has been able to fulfill a great national task of providing jobs to millions. The need is to raise them to the next level of quality and credibility, in ancillary industry or as clusters.
He said that Gujarat has adopted a very progressive policy during the last ten years to encourage small scale industries. No wonder it has registered 85 per cent growth in SME sector, while it was just 19 per cent in India. Gujarat is the state with least unemployment rate and maximum 72 per cent of country’s total new jobs in a period. It is also the state with minimum man-days loss, which was possible due to exemplary industrial relation between the employers and employees prevailing in the state.
In view of the challenge thrown by China’s aggressive policy to encourage SME sector, Mr. Modi said there is need to develop this sector in Gujarat as well in India, create ‘Made in Gujarat-India’ Brand, with zero defect quality product.
The Chief Minister distributed best performance certificates to SME entrepreneurs on the occasion.
Sources: Gujarat Information Bureau
