Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Kalraj Mishra has urged the entrepreneurs here to take advantage of the various schemes and make use of the unutilised funds lying with the ministry.

While he did not quantify the unused amount, the Minister maintained that there was no dearth of funds. He had an hour-long interaction with the various association representatives here on Sunday.

Industry demands

President of the Coimbatore District Small Industries Association (Codissia) EK Ponnuswamy drew the attention of Mishra to the association’s plea for establishment of an IPR centre to boost new pattern registrations and in turn the growth of the MSMEs in the region; establishment of technology centre or at least an extension of such a centre in Coimbatore.

He also apprised the Minister of the association’s plan to build a world-class convention centre. “We had sought financial assistance from the Ministry in 2014. Such a centre would help boost MSME exports from this region as the facility would help us in market promotion and product launches.”

The association has suggested amendments in the proposed defence procurement policy to facilitate MSME participation in defence supply.

S Ravikumar, President of Coimbatore Tirupur District Micro and Cottage Entrepreneurs Association (Cotma), highlighted the plight of the micro and cottage industries.

He appealed to the Minister to enhance the mandatory public procurement policy limit to 30 per cent (from 20 per cent), a three-year moratorium on repayment of loans from nationalised banks and setting up of a bank exclusively for cottage industries.

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