About five crore micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) will soon have an online resource to tap for all their information needs. Being set by business chambers ASSOCHAM and Institute of Cost Accounts of India (ICAI), the virtual window will also let the SMEs to connect with global investors and small-scale industry bodies. The name of the website will be announced in two weeks.
SMEs provide employment to 11 crore people and contribute 8 per cent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). “But they find it very difficult when it comes to seeking relevant source that can clear their doubts. We would like to create a single platform that can address a wide variety of issues that bother them,” D S Rawat, National Secretary-General of Assocham, said.
The Assocham-ICAI duo, which released a Vision Document for the Virtual Centre, is targeting to help 500 MSMEs produce innovative products.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday, he said the virtual centre would reach out to three crore MSMEs and 2 crore budding entrepreneurs. “We are targeting to train about one crore unskilled or semi-skilled people in various skills, making them more productive,” he said.
Assocham Chairman for the southern region Ravindra Sannareddy said that the centre would act as a single-window for all MSME related issues including finance, technology, skill development, policy and compliance.