Kolkata, Oct 29: In a bid to provide fresh impetus to ailing small scale industries (SSI) sector, West Bengal government is contemplating changes in its purchases policy, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today said and called upon entrepreneurs to start producing items that were being brought into the state from outside. "The state government's endeavour has been to act as facilitator so that the SSI units can develop their marketing and get adequate credit. The purchase policy of the state government is now under review keeping in mind the present requirements of the SSI sector," Bhattacharjee said while addressing 116th annual general meeting of the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BNCCI) here.
The SSI sector which occupies an important place in the state's economy is now facing various challenges. The institutional support and the upgradation of technology are urgently needed to equip the sector for tackling several problem, Bhattacharjee said.
He said the state's handloom sector with its six lakh artisans had the capacity of producing fabrics with a wide range of designs, colour combinations and structural patterns. In the hosiery sector, diversification and innovation had become necessary in view of the changing needs of the modern day world.
Bhattacharjee said there was need to set up new units in the state for processing of items that were presently being brought from outside the state in order to make those items cost effective and also to generate more economic activities and employment.
Bureau Report