SIDBI starts project to enhance competitiveness of MSMEs

The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has started a 28 months project in about 1,200 Medium and Small Scale Enterprises in dyes and chemicals clusters in Ahmedabad, in order to enhance their competitiveness. SIDBI, which is the principal financial institution for promotion of small-scale industries, has started this project with the objectives to reinforce products’ marketing, improve productivity, quality and solve issues related to pollution.

These clusters have been receiving notices from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) to control the discharge of chemicals, while some of the MSMEs have received closure notices from GPCB.But, these clusters do not have technical expertise to look for consultants to solve pollution related issues, so EDI as SIDBI’s partner in the project will offer them assistance to find linkages and the expertise. Along with the pollution related issues, the matters related to business improvement and modernization would also be considered through this project. Issues of sensitization among cluster stakeholders, workshops on environmental hazards, and cleaner production and energy conservation would also be taken up under this project.Moreover, establishment of primary treatment plants and energy development in selected units would also be done under the project and it will also undertake monitoring and evaluation mechanism including a baseline survey, monthly/quarterly progress report, annual impact evaluation and periodic reviews. Execution of the project, which will facilitate provisioning of demand-driven services, will be monitored by a cluster co-ordination committee.