JOIN USTo enable small and medium enterprises to tap potential opportunities in the aerospace and defence (A&D) sector and take advantage of the existing electronics industry in Bangalore, the Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) will set up a Rs 140 crore MSME Technology Centre at Devanahalli Aerospace Park, Bangalore.
This, even as two earlier MSME facilities, at Agra and Chennai are facing imminent closure, according to a ministry official.
The Devanahalli Centre is one of the 15 such facilities to be established across India at a total cost of about Rs 2,000 crore funded by the World Bank, according to Union Minister of State (independent charge) K H Muniyappa.
He was speaking to reporters on Saturday on the eve of foundation stone laying ceremony for the Centre, slated for Sunday.
Muniyappa said, “The Bangalore Centre, after completion in about two years, will train 10,000 to 15,000 people every year and provide skilled manpower that will enable MSMEs not only cater to business opportunities domestically, but also help in stepping up exports.” According to him, MSMEs, which are currently not globally competitive, can play a pivotal role in driving exports by upgrading their technological skills and offering better designed products.
The MSME Technology Centre will be spread over 10 acres provided by the Karnataka government and train manpower for electronics design and manufacturing sectors and also for A&D companies.
It will also serve as an incubator to promote entrepreneurship, and provide technological assistance to aspiring entrepreneurs, the additional secretary and development commissioner (MSME), government of India, Amarendra Sinha said.
He added that the track record of such centres, 18 of which are existing in different formats in India, is a mixed one. “While 10 are alright, there are two for which we have ‘licence to kill’, at Agra and Chennai.”
He however, did not elaborate the reasons for it.