"Uttar Pradesh Government Targets MSME Export Hubs for Global Market Competition"

According to sources, the Uttar Pradesh state government aims to enhance the e-commerce sector and develop local export hubs to double micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) shipments to Rs 3 trillion within the next two to three years.

The MSME sector currently accounts for 60% of UP's annual industrial output and stands as the primary employment generator after agriculture and allied activities. In a bid to bolster this crucial sector, the MSME department is devising a plan to identify and promote 75 districts as potential export hubs for local industries, aiming to create jobs and contribute to the state's goal of achieving a Rs 1 trillion economy.

The state government intends to invest in promoting and marketing MSMEs, particularly under the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme, to enhance their competitiveness in global markets. Rakesh Sachan, the state's MSME minister, highlighted the sector's pivotal role in attracting private investment, noting plans to study and possibly replicate the raw material banks established in Tamil Nadu and Odisha.

Despite its significance, the MSME sector faces challenges such as limited working capital and inadequate marketing support. In response, the UP government launched the ODOP scheme, aimed at revitalizing traditional handicrafts and indigenous industries.

Speaking at a recent MSME program in Lucknow, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasized the importance of nurturing indigenous products and providing them with robust platforms for growth in the market.

BS