Nagpur, Apr 16 (KNN) Union Minister Nitin Gadkari of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) held a meeting via video conferencing with the member of the All India Plastic Manufacturers Association (AIPMA) and the PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry, from his residence in Nagpur.

During the meeting representatives raised concerns and suggested some measures to which Gadkari assured all possible help from the government to tide over the challenges created by the lockdown due COVID-19 outbreak.

Waiver of fixed charges on utility (electricity, water) bills, extension of moratorium for certain payments, inclusion of certain goods in the category of essential commodities, payment of salaries to workers during lockdown from their ESI and Provident Fund, extension in GST payment, relief in transportation for exports of goods, were some of the suggestions they gave.

“The suggestions related to my department (MSME) will be addressed immediately...We are standing with you. But the industry should also see that other stakeholders like banks, financial institutions and electricity sector are also feeling the heat and need our support,” he said.

The MSME Minister said that the industry should work together and tap the opportunities that will be created when the COVID-19 crisis gets over.