Fillip to small enterprises: Annual fair planned

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Thursday decided to organise a fortnight-long fair for micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) every year starting next year to provide marketing support to local entrepreneurs and downstream industries. Assistance of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) will be sought to promote exports from the State. FIEO will collaborate in matters of organising open house meets, workshops,  buyers and sellers meet for scaling the export of MSMEs products. The federation has signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with over 60 chambers of trade and commerce in foreign countries for promoting export business in global market.  It will also organise awareness programmes, business development initiatives, skill development and capacity building for MSMEs in collaboration with SIDBI. Principal Secretary of the newly-created MSMEs NK Sundaray made a presentation on the vision of the department at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary BK Patnaik. The vision document said the department had started new initiatives for having inter-departmental coordination with various Central Government agencies and corporations for an integrated approach to promote the MSMEs in the State.  A new food processing policy drafted by the Department is under examination of the Government. The Centre has sanctioned a mega food park for the State to be set up at Rayagada with support from IDCO and MITS group. Meanwhile, the department has taken initiative to establish a Central Footwear Training Institute at Dadhipatana near Baranga and 15 acres of land has been identified for the purpose. The Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) has offered to establish its branch in the State and it is under active consideration of the Government, Sundaray said. It was decided at the meeting that a coordination and collaborative system would be developed among different departments and agencies of the State and Central governments. The proposals for introduction of a single window system for MSME export and establishment of Raptani Bhawan (export house) were also discussed. It was decided to have a Raptani Bhawan at the proposed World Trade Centre.