Governor’s address at the inaugural session of the ‘SME Manufacturers and Exporters’ Summit’ and Maharashtra Industry & SME Summit 2016 in Mumbai

Address by Shri CH Vidyasagar Rao, Governor of Maharashtra at the inaugural session of the ‘SME Manufacturers and Exporters’ Summit’ and Maharashtra Industry & SME Summit 2016 organised by the Maharashtra Industrial Economic Development Association (MIEDA) and SME Chamber of India on the theme: ‘Strengthening SMEs for Better Business & Export Growth” at Hotel Sahara Star, Mumbai at 1000 hrs on 19th August 2016

Shri Subhash Desai, Hon’ble Minister for Industry, Government of Maharashtra, Shri Rajeev Kumar Agrawal, Whole Time Member, SEBI, Shri Arun Tiwari, Chairman and MD, Union Bank of India, Shri Udai Kumar, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Metropolitan Stock Exchange of India Ltd, Shri Chandrakant Salunkhe, Founder & President, Maharashtra Industrial and Economic Development Association (MIEDA) and SME Chamber of India, captains of industry, representatives of Small and Medium Enterprises, Start ups, ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to associate myself with the inauguration of the ‘SME Manufacturers and Exporters Summit’ and the ‘Maharashtra Industry & SME Meet’ jointly organized by the SME Chamber of India and the Maharashtra Industrial and Economic Development Association.

At the outset I congratulate the SME Chamber of India on its 23rd Foundation Day.

I would particularly convey my appreciation to Shri Chandrakant Salunkhe, Chairman of the Chamber, as also to, all the Office bearers of the Chamber, for steering the Chamber successfully for the last 23 years and for taking affirmative steps for the empowerment of entrepreneurs especially from the SME Sector.

The conference has been organized at a most appropriate juncture when the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India is making serious efforts to promote Small and Medium Enterprises and the Start Ups. The Hon’ble Prime Minister is keen that the youths from not just big cities and metros, but also those from small towns and villages unleash their spirit of enterprise and start their own small business activities.

In my capacity as Chancellor of 20 universities in the State having an estimated 3 million students, I am asking all Vice Chancellors to 1. Promote Innovation and Research 2. Promote Skill Development, and 3. Encourage youths to become entrepreneurs.

Let me tell you one thing. Innovation is taking place in our agricultural universities also. Recently I visited an agricultural university in Parbhani. They have made very useful farm implements which can be used even by farm women, especially widows of farmers who lost their lives or committed suicide.

We need collaboration between industry and universities so that such agricultural implements and other innovative solutions could be produced and marketed.

For long, Indian educational institutions have churned out graduates without any skills. As a result, the number of unemployed persons in the country kept on growing. We have to change the mindset of the youths and encourage them to become enterpreneurs and job givers, and not job seekers.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Maharashtra has been in the forefront of industrial growth and has consistently played a crucial role in the economic development of the country.

The State has several natural advantages over other States. While leveraging these advantages, we need to focus on the opportunities for the sustained growth of the State. Our strength is horticulture. Our strength is fisheries and dairy products. A lot more can be achieved if we promote agro processing in the State in a big way.

During the Make in India Week, Maharashtra received highest investment among all states in India. We have to make sure that the intentions expressed by participating entities are translated into reality. The success of SME sector is closely interlinked with the success of the Make in India programme.

I wish to assure you that my Government is committed to improving the ease of doing business in the State and I will appeal to the Chairman of the Chamber to give specific suggestions to further improve the ease of doing business in Maharashtra especially in the SME sector.

I congratulate the President of the Association Mr Salunkhe for his initiative of setting up Mumbai Business Forum. I also appreciate the initiative of launching of the innovative SME Confidence Index and I am sure that this will prove useful for the State as well as Central Government. I also congratulate the Government of Maharashtra for its association with this endeavour.

To conclude, I would like to assure this distinguished gathering that the State of Maharashtra is committed to creating an enabling atmosphere for greater trade, investment and economic co-operation as well as empowering SMEs and Industry.

I have great expectations from this Summit and I look forward to hearing the outcome of your deliberations. I wish the conference all success!

Jai Hind! Jai Maharashtra

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