Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that his government was committed to opening new vistas of opportunity for the youth and was hence focusing on the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector so that trained youth could get employment at their doorsteps.
“The MSME sector has started turning the tide towards development. The government is committed to providing all necessary assistance for MSME development and to traditional craftsmen as they form the base of realising the dream of a self-reliant India. There would be no dearth of capital for youths wanting to start a new venture and loans are being provided as per their requirements,” he said.
Addressing a virtual programme at his official residence in Lucknow on Thursday, Yogi disbursed loans of over Rs 10 crore for capital requirement of 3.54 lakh MSME units which included 29,914 new units.
While the chief minister distributed loans to eight entrepreneurs at the programme, others were provided loans at programmes organised at district level.
“Small-scale industries form the basis of a powerful state and the state government’s efforts to speed up industrial development is going to bring prosperity in everyone’s life,” he said.
“During COVID-19 period, the Central and UP governments jointly made efforts to encourage migrant labourers, traditional craftsmen and MSMEs,” the chief minister added.
“When Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the first economic package during lockdown on May 14, the next day the UP government provided loans of Rs 2002 crore to 56,754 new MSME units under Online Self Employment Programme. In addition, MSME Saathi portal and app were also launched to solve problems of these units,” Yogi Adityanath said.
More than four lakh MSME units were given loans of Rs 10,999 crore after the prime minister launched the Atmanirbhar Uttar Pradesh Rojgar Abhiyan on June 26. In addition, over 2.50 lakh MSME units were also given loans of Rs 7,841 crore in the third phase.
Lauding the role of banks, Yogi Adityanath said that large-scale loan fairs were being organised in coordination with banks.
“The MSME units in the state are moving towards self-reliance and recently 15 units got listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange in an effort to meet their capital requirements. This innovative endeavour will also play the role of a motivator for other MSMEs,” the chief minister added.
Yogi Adityanath also virtually distributed advanced tool kits related to handlooms, handicrafts, textiles, metal crafts, food processing, and pottery, to 5,000 beneficiaries.