Guwahati, Aug 23 (KNN) Assam Industry and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary urged the Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoS MSME) Pratap Chandra Sarangi to enhance the Centre and State’s funding ratio to 90:10 from the present ratio of 80:20 and increase the amount for infrastructure development in MSME sector from Rs 10 crore to Rs 20 crore for Assam.

Patowary said the MSME is a dominant sector in the industrial scenario of Assam. It contributes maximum employment generation with minimum capital and is a major contributor to the state’s economic growth.

As a special category state, he requested the union minister to consider including the approach road to industrial infrastructures and enhancing the project completion period from two years to three years.

During the meeting, matters related to MSME schemes like tool room, Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), industrial infrastructure improvement etc were discussed in detail.

Giving the patient hearing to all concerns of the state, Minister Sarangi assured all help to expedite and sanction the state’s projects pertaining to MSME in the areas of entrepreneurship skill development, procurement and marketing support, setting up of incubation centre on food processing etc.

He advocated for handicraft and khadi industries to boost rural economy and ensure generation of employment, especially for women and youths.

He also called upon the State Government to popularize organic farming and promote value addition of spices to fetch higher prices at the international markets.