Nagpur, Nov 11 (KNN) Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME) Nitin Gadkari has said that as many as 13 MSME clusters will be formed in rural areas of Vidarbha region alone.

He said the aim of these clusters will be to generate employment in rural areas. 

“We will provide markets for local products. We will spend Rs4,500 crore on these clusters,” Gadkari said addressing the silver jubilee function of Mahila Griha Udyog’s Lijjat Papad Limited.

Gadkari also promised to increase the share of the sector in industrial growth to 49% from the present 29% and 

said the Central government and his ministry were taking several steps to achieve the target.

Gadkari further said that over the years Lijjat Papad has not emphasized on increasing production and profit, but on providing quality product to consumers. 

“This group is therefore not doing business but it is a type of social entrepreneurship,” he added.

“Even though the economy is not doing well, and unemployment is a problem, Lijjat Group is providing livelihood to over 50,000 women. The turnover of the group is over Rs1,500 crore. It is a matter of pride that Lijjat exports products worth Rs75 crore every year,” said the minister.

He appealed to strengthen the women who were working for the group. “It should come up with new products so that more jobs are created and the economy gets a fillip,” said Gadkari. 

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