All round growth of MSMEs sought, focus on women artisans

New Delhi, June 20 (UNI) The first meeting of the National Board for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises today sought all round development of MSMEs with focus on women artisans.

''The Government should lay more stress on the uplift of artisans, especially women,'' Board Vice-President Syeda Hameed said.

In his opening remarks, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Mahabir Prasad said availability of adequate credit at affordable rates was vital for the modernisation of MSMEs.

He said the number of manufacturing and service enterprises had grown by 900,000 to more than 12.8 million in the past three years.

employing about 31.3 million people.

This, he said, depicted an average annual growth rate of 4 per cent in number and 4.57 per cent in employment-- next only to agriculture.

The meeting was attended, among others, by ministers concerned from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, leaders of Central Trade Union Organisations, and representatives from the RBI and various MSME associations.

UNI