The second edition of the Odisha MSME International Trade Fair is scheduled to be inaugurated by Governor SC Jamir on Wednesday. The fair, organised by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Department along with the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), will continue for seven days.
MSME Department Secretary Panchanan Dash told a Press meet here on Monday that the fair this year would have a strong international flavour. Out of the 270 stalls, about 70 are for parties from outside Odisha, including those from abroad which include Egypt, Malawi and Burkina Faso.
The fair would also have several seminars to highlight the opportunities available in this sector in the State and for interaction of the existing as well as potential entrepreneurs with financial institutions and major industries. Dash said the fair this year would have many innovations including a helpdesk for potential entrepreneurs and technology demonstrator sessions from machinery manufacturers.
In answer to questions regarding the specific performance of the sector in the State, Dash took cover behind the code of conduct issued by the State Election Commission for the ensuing BMC elections. He, however, disclosed that the target for the current financial year is to promote 10,000 new enterprises and get 37,000 additional persons employed in the sector.
He said there are 1.5 million MSMEs in the State when it was last counted and that the banks do not follow the recommendations of the Prime Minister’s Taskforce constituted to boost the performance of the MSME sector in the country.
Others present at the Press meet included EP&M Director BK Das, Director of Industries N Palai and NSIC Zonal Manager PC Naik.