Business incubator to be set up.

Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Giriraj Singh recently agreed to establish a Livelihood Business Incubator Centre in Puducherry.

Participating in a meeting organised by the Puducherry chapter of the Confederation of Indian Industry on manufacturing and SMEs here, he said the ministry would establish the centre to provide skill development training and help youth in the region to start their own business.

The technology tool centre for MSMEs sanctioned for Puducherry would be ready by this year, the Minister said.

Offering to extend cooperation in reviving industrial activity, he said the National Democratic Alliance government was working towards development of all States.

Stating that the Union Territory had tremendous potential in MSME sector, the Minister said the administration should focus on cluster units, especially in the garment sector. On complaints of banks not providing loans to MSME sector, the Union Minister said financial institutions had been given clear instructions to lend money to small scale units.

In his address, Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy said the government had been willing to provide all assistance to industrial units to set up base in the Union Territory. There had been queries from industrial units from other States to set up base here. Recently, a delegation from Avadi Industrial Estate had expressed interest to set up units, he said.

On 800 acres of land available with the Industries Department, the Chief Minister requested Mr. Singh to prevail upon the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to allow his administration to transfer this land to Puducherry Industrial Promotion, Development and Investment Corporation Ltd. The PIPDIC planned to allot the land to entrepreneurs, he said.

Minister for Industries M.O.H.F. Shahjahan said the Centre should sanction money for providing infrastructure facilities.

He pointed out the government’s intent to encourage leisure tourism by setting up floating casinos and cruise facility.

Minister for Labour M. Kandasamy, Secretary Labour Sundaravadivelou, Chairman, CII Southern Region R. Dinesh and Chairman-CII Puducherry State Council M. Nandakumar spoke.

THE HINDU