Inclusive growth is not possible without strengthening small, medium and micro enterprises (MSMEs), one of the largest job creators in India, said Ajay Shankar, member secretary, National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council.

Addressing the launch of ‘1,000 Visionary SME Programme’ by NMCC, the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) here on Wednesday, Shankar said the story of the SME sector so far was mixed in the country. “If there are extraordinary success stories, there are great difficulties, too” he added.

Shankar said the biggest challenge for India, therefore, was to unlock the potential in the sector in the next five to seven years, especially by focusing on establishing a globally competitive supply chain.

The “1,000 visionary SME Programme” is an extension of an earlier scheme to ‘transform’ enterprises at the consumer and supplier level. It will draw expertise from its chief advisor, Padma Shri awardee, Shoji Shiba, from Japan, among others, for a participatory fee of Rs 6,50,000, and will focus on education and training to create “visionary” leaders in the manufacturing sector.

The programme has helped transform the manufacturing paradigm of over 160 companies since its inception in 2012, a CII release said, including customers such as large companies like Tata Motors, TVS Group, as well as SME supplier companies.

aditi.n@thehindu.co.in

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