New Delhi, Mar 27 (KNN) The quintessential Gujarati surnames of Patel and Shah, rule Gujarat's Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), reveals a study report prepared by Takashi Shinoda, Professor of Economics with Japan’s Daito Bunka University.

Study also reveals that the Patel and Shah surnames together command ownership of 16% of the Rs 90,000 crore sectors.

The study stated that apart from Patidars and Banias, communities like OBCs, STs and Brahmins have made forays. 

With a view to understand correlation between entrepreneurship and communities among other factors, Shinoda collated data of 3.5 lakh MSMEs registered with the Gujarat government between 2006 and 2015 and analyzed ownership patterns.

The professor, who has studied Gujarat's economy since past three decades now, categorized common surnames associated with specific communities for analysis. 

He said that the analysis of MSME sector between 2006 and 2015 reveals that the entrepreneurs with common Patidar and Bania surnames command highest 30% ownership of MSMEs in Gujarat.

His report further reveals that he number of owners with common Brahmin, Kshatriya, Muslim, Tribal and OBC surnames have increased over these nine years

He said, growth of non-Patidar and Bania communities, however, is primarily involved in micro enterprises segment which is not much capital-intensive. 

Further the report highlights that the average investment in these sectors is Rs 26 lakh which is highest of Rs 32.6 lakh by Patidars followed by Rs 31.9 lakh each by Banias and other upper castes identified.

Further, Tribals have an average investment of Rs 2.7 lakh, he added.

Shailesh Patwari, president, Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that now a day’s MSMEs are not restricted to any one particular community as entrepreneurs from different caste and societies entering into the business.

He added that factors like education and awareness about the industry as well as government schemes are the reasons that brought them into the business.