The four-day-long MSME Expo Odisha-2014, which was being organised here by the MSME Development Institute, concluded on Sunday. The Central Tool Room and Training Centre, Bhubaneswar, the Odisha Industries Association, Cuttack and all industry associations of the State provided their support. PSUs and private industrial hoses like Nalco, MCl, NTPC, PPT, IOCl, Ordnance Factory, ODCl, East Coast Railways, IFFCO, NINl, BSNl and Tata Steel and promotional agencies and financial institutions like SIDBI, IDBI, SBI, Indian Bank, Allahabad Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, UCo Bank, KVIC, Coir Board and APITCO participated in the programme.
A total of 90 MSMEs from different parts of the country also took part. Attending as chief guest on the concluding ceremony Industries Minister Debi Prasad Mishra said manufacturing continue to be an important facet of industries and plays a critical role in the economic development of Odisha through value addition to the natural resources.
Informing that the growth in steel sectors has been anticipated to reach 100 MT by 2019-20 from 38 in 2004-05, the Minister advised the entrepreneurs to set up new ancillary units as Paradip Refinery Project has started. He advised the industries associations to place their proposals to the Industries Department much before the ensuing industrial policy schedule to be published in March 2015.
He also appealed to all the PSUs of the State to enhance their public procurement from MSEs of the State from 20 per cent to 25 per cent. Industries Department Special Secretary Sarat Chandra Naik presided over the function.
Director Technial (Operation) MCl AK Tiwari said MCl, Nalco Director (Commercial) Soma Mondal and Odisha Industries Association president Abani Kanungo highlighted the steps being taken up at their respective end for growth of the MSME in the State. The Expo was inaugurated by MSME Minister Jogendra Behera on December 11.