SIDBI Outreach Programme is Launched to Strengthen MSME Ecosystem in Maharashtra

Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), the apex financial institution engaged in the promotion, financing and development of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), organised an outreach programme for strengthening MSMEs ecosystem here in collaboration with Development Commissioner - Ministry of MSME, (DC MSME) and Ministry of Finance and Government of Maharashtra.

The main objective of the outreach programme is knowledge dissemination on digital platforms and to have closer cooperation with Maharashtra government on MSME issues.

Speaking on the occasion, Mohammad Mustafa,Chairman and Managing Director, SIDBI, on Saturday said, “This initiative is a part of our SIDBI Vision 2.0 under which Mission Swavalamban is our umbrella initiative. The prime objective of the initiative is to gauge the expectation of MSME stakeholders, identify the good practices of the State and suggest State-specific schemes.

''We expect greater participation by MSMEs in these programmes and urge them to make best use of these initiatives. We have recently organised National Microfinance Congress, Swavalamban Mela for Micro Enterprises in the state and look forward to new developmental initiatives.” he added.

This half-day outreach programme by SIDBI is based on recommendation of the expert committee on MSMEs headed by U K Sinha, former chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), for SIDBI to collaborate with state governments to get MSME units from the state onto digital platforms such as PSBloansIn59minutes, listing on stock exchanges, e-commerce platforms etc.

This is the 5th outreach programme under this initiative, which had started with Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, and Gujarat and after Maharashtrait will further be carried out in other 5 identified states shortly. Target audience of these programmes would be officials from state governments, banks, industry/ trade associations, MSME and other relevant stakeholders at each centre.

The programme witnessed overwhelming participation from various stakeholders including senior officials of government of Maharashtra, District Industries Centres, banks, MSME development organisations, Industry Associations and MSMEs. Informative sessions on schemes for Ease of Access, sensitization programme on PSBLoansIn59Minutes, listing on stock exchanges, ecommerce platforms – Government e-Marketplace (GeM), Interest Subvention, Udyami Mitra, Mission Swavalamban, Prayas Scheme and other products of SIDBI were carried out.

The programme was chaired by Dr M R Khambete, President, Chamber of Small Industry Associations and attended by Vrushali B Sone, General Manager, District Industries Centre, Thane.

Expectations of state government in terms of ease of access to credit and non-financial services were also enlisted. The valued partners for the initiative are GeM, PSBLoansIn59Minutes, National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Dun & Bradstreet (D&B).