<p>The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has "almost finalised the scheme in which we will give liberal subsidy to industry associations ... I think it is going to be a game-changer. If we are able to create 5-6 successful clouds everybody will emulate," Varma told PTI in an interview.<br /><br />The SMEs can have access to the latest computing technology, data and softwares without investing fortunes in them, through a common grid of a service provider.<br />The concept known as cloud computing is catching up fast, especially among those who cannot afford costly servers.<br /><br />The MSME secretary said that while the government would provide substantial subsidy for cloud computing to the SMEs, it does not want "fly by night operators".<br /><br />The Ministry is banking on the SME associations which will create special purpose vehicles (SPVs) to implement the technology upgradation schemes.<br /><br />He said the subsidy funds could be released either to the SPVs or directly to the service provider depending on the advice of the Finance Ministry.<br /><br />In an another initiative, the Ministry proposes to create a common platform for electronic registration of the MSME entrepreneurs.<br /><br />Although the registration is required to be done at the District Industry Centres under the state governments, the Centre is willing to provide a common platform which can be used for e-filing of registrations.<br /><br />However, the consent of state governments needs to be taken. "I am quite sanguine that state governments will come forward...this will eliminate delays and corruption," he added.<br /><br />There are 26 million enterprises which employ almost 60 million people in the labour-intensive sector.<br /><br />The MSME sector contributes over 45 per cent to the country's industrial production and around 40 per cent to the total exports.</p>
<p>The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has "almost finalised the scheme in which we will give liberal subsidy to industry associations ... I think it is going to be a game-changer. If we are able to create 5-6 successful clouds everybody will emulate," Varma told PTI in an interview.<br /><br />The SMEs can have access to the latest computing technology, data and softwares without investing fortunes in them, through a common grid of a service provider.<br />The concept known as cloud computing is catching up fast, especially among those who cannot afford costly servers.<br /><br />The MSME secretary said that while the government would provide substantial subsidy for cloud computing to the SMEs, it does not want "fly by night operators".<br /><br />The Ministry is banking on the SME associations which will create special purpose vehicles (SPVs) to implement the technology upgradation schemes.<br /><br />He said the subsidy funds could be released either to the SPVs or directly to the service provider depending on the advice of the Finance Ministry.<br /><br />In an another initiative, the Ministry proposes to create a common platform for electronic registration of the MSME entrepreneurs.<br /><br />Although the registration is required to be done at the District Industry Centres under the state governments, the Centre is willing to provide a common platform which can be used for e-filing of registrations.<br /><br />However, the consent of state governments needs to be taken. "I am quite sanguine that state governments will come forward...this will eliminate delays and corruption," he added.<br /><br />There are 26 million enterprises which employ almost 60 million people in the labour-intensive sector.<br /><br />The MSME sector contributes over 45 per cent to the country's industrial production and around 40 per cent to the total exports.</p>