MSME to promote 240 entrepreneurship clubs

Tiruchirapalli, Nov 19 (UNI) The Union Government proposes promote about 240 entrepreneurship clubs each in South, North, East, West and North Eastern regions across the country every year over the next five years, S Sivagnanam, Director, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Institute (MSMEDI), Chennai, said.

Launching the entrepreneurship club here yesterday, he said the Vellore Institute of Technology University, (VIT University) has been identified as the partner institution/knowledge centre by the Ministry of MSME for promoting the entrepreneurship clubs in the South region comprising Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Puducherry. Each clubs would have a minimum of 50 entrepreneurs as members.

The Ministry has allotted Rs 50 lakh a year for the partner institutions for promoting the clubs and providing them necessary technical support and guidance. The first such club was started in Coimbatore and the concept was being extended to more cities/sectors,he added.

N Srinivasulu, Assistant Director, MSMEDI, said members of the clubs could either be product based or representing a geographically contiguous industry. The MSME and the partner institution would serve as facilitators of growth for the club members.

M P Jayakumar, Additional General Manager, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, Ranipet, who inaugurated the club, said his unit was looking to expand its vendor base, especially in milling area. There was a good scope for replicating the success story of micro units supported by Ranipet unit of the BHEL in Tiruchirapalli too.

Project Director of TIDITSSIA-STED C Ramaswamy Desai said some of the club members in Tiruchirapalli were looking for tie-ups with industries and TIDITSSIA was hoping for the support of the BHEL's Ranipet unit. Talks were also on with the Central Railway Workshop at Golden Rock to explore the feasibility of a tie-up arrangement for supply of small components. An entrepreneurs club exclusively for women was also being planned.

According to Mr Desai,an entrepreneurship club, comprising budding entrepreneurs of Tiruchirapalli, was floated here yesterday as part of a country-wide initiative by the Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).

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