New Delhi, Jun 9 (KNN) The government will set up a task force to review and revive the MSME sector, said President Pranab Mukherjee while listing out priorities of the NDA government which include promotion of labour-intensive manufacturing, single-window system of clearances and enhanced technological, marketing and investment support.

The government will set up a task force to review and revive the MSME sector, he said.

Mukherjee was addressing a joint sitting of Parliament in the Central Hall, laying the roadmap of the new government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“For rapid creation of jobs in the manufacturing sector, the government will strategically promote labour-intensive manufacturing. Employment opportunities will also be expanded by promoting tourism and agro-based industries,” he said.

The government intends to transform Employment Exchanges into Career Centres - connecting the youth with job opportunities in a transparent and effective manner through the use of technology as well as through counselling and training.

“The government will strengthen the pension and health insurance safety nets for labour force of all categories and would provide them access to modern financial services,” he said.

We need to transform ourselves into a globally competitive manufacturing hub powered by Skill, Scale and Speed, Mukherjee noted.

“To this end, the government will set up world class investment and industrial regions, particularly along the Dedicated Freight Corridors and Industrial Corridors spanning the country.”

He said that the government will encourage the domestic industry to innovate and collaborate internationally and will strive to move towards a single-window system of clearances both at the Centre and at the States through a hub-spoke model.

“To strengthen our share in global trade, procedures will be simplified and trade infrastructure strengthened so as to reduce transaction time and costs. The SSI and Handicraft sectors will be encouraged by providing them enhanced technological, marketing and investment support.

“Export potential of this sector will be encouraged,” President said adding that the government will make every effort to improve the working conditions of the weavers in particular.

He said the country is passing through an extremely difficult state on the economic front. "Putting the economy back on track is paramount for the government," said the President.

Controlling inflation will be the top priority for the new government, he added.

President Mukherjee said the government will set up IITs and IIMs in every state of the country.

"My government will set up IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology) and IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management) in every state.  A national e-library will also be set up."

With the motto of “Har Haath Ko Hunar”, the government intends to strive to break the barriers between formal education and skill development, and put in place a mechanism to give academic equivalence to vocational qualifications, according to the President.

“With the goal of Skilled India, my government will also launch a National Multi-skill Mission,” he added. (KNN/SD)