

VADODARA: Public sector undertakings ( PSU ) in the country will have to ensure from April 1 that 20% of their procurement is from micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME). Union minister for MSME Kalraj Mishra said this while speaking at Vibrant VExhibition 2014 here on Saturday.

Mishra said the procurement would be made mandatory for all 337 units of the public sector. Mishra said the Union government had taken up the task of establishing 500 livelihood incubation centres in the country to give employment-oriented training to rural youth and the help of major industrial units was being taken for the purpose.

He said the government was aware of the issues of MSME sector like bank advances, credit guarantee and taxation. He added that these would be solved in a phased manner. Mishra was speaking at the interactive meet of representatives of chambers of commerce and small and medium enterprises on the third day of the exhibition .

Mishra added that the government was in the process of making all processes in the small industries ministry online. He added that various portals were being developed. This, he said, would bring in more transparency and end the inspector raj.

