Individuals who are interested to become entrepreneurs should be encouraged, opined Karnataka State Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Limited (KSSSIDC) Managing Director Dr D S Vishwanath.
He was addressing the entrepreneurs in an interactive meeting organised by Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in Mangalore.
“Global investors meets are focusing exclusively on investors. The government acts as a facilitator in these meets and helps in creating conducive atmosphere for the setting up of the industries,” he said.
He said that such meetings would address different issues faced by the entrepreneurs and help them to find solutions for it.
He said that special preference should be given to MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) in investor’s meet. “About 45 per cent of total manufacturing and 40 per cent of exporting in India is from MSME and it is providing employment to more than six crore people.”
He said that government has identified six places in the state namely Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore, Hubli, Gulbarga and Belgaum for the development of MSMEs.
“If the land is available for the setting up of industry, then the government will sign MoU with the interested. If the land is not available, then the government will go for EoI (Expression of Interest)”, he said.
Karnataka government has signed Expression of Interest (EOI) with Aravind Apparels to set up a garment-manufacturing unit in Sullia.
The project is worth Rs 50 crore. On behalf of the state government, District Industries Centre (DIC) Joint Director S G Hegde signed the agreement with Aravind Apparels Managing Director Aravind M P. Dr D S Vishwanath said that EoI for projects worth Rs 95 crore were signed during his visit.
No mention on local issues
The KSSSIDC Limited Managing Director kept himself away from the questions raised by the local entrepreneurs on acquiring land for MSEZ and pipeline issues. “Every problem has solution and you have to accept it”, he said. “You (entrepreneurs) here in Mangalore are much stronger than me, who is sitting in Bangalore. You should discuss the issues and find solutions amicably”, he advised the entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurs urged the government to ease the processes from the state side for starting industries such as allotment and sanctioning the land for industries.
They also suggested the Government to appoint representatives from various Government departments in the Karnataka Udyog Mithra, so that they will understand the process.
Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Latha R Kini, Secretary Rammohan Pai Maroor, Treasurer M Ganesh Bhat, Karnataka Udyog Mithra Executive Officer M Bhyregowda were also present during the meeting.