Gov lauds initiative to host Commonwealth small biz prog

Chennai, Jun 8 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Governor S S Barnala today welcomed the initiative taken by the Commonwealth Secretariat and its Indian partners to once again host the 'Eighth Commonwealth-India Small Business Competitiveness Development Programme' in the state.

Addressing the inaugural session here, the Governor said the programme would serve as a platform to the delegates from various Commonwealth countries to share the experience and expertise.

''It is heartening to note that the Eighth Commonwealth-India Small Business Competitiveness Development Programme's objective is to include capacity development initiative that promotes economic development in Commonwealth member states by providing competitive strategies and policies on SME development to practitioners and policy makers,'' he said.

The steps taken by Tamil Nadu government for the advancement of SME sector were laudable, the Governor said and added the launching of the recent Micro and Small and Medium enterprises policy by the state government had envisioned and enhanced competitiveness in growth and employment opportunities in the state.

Mr Baranala also commended the services rendered by the Coir Board in developing coir industries as small and medium enterprises.

More than half a million people, of which 85 per cent women, were engaged in coir sector, he said.

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