New Delhi, Jan 8 (KNN) The government has sought comments from stakeholders on the proposed National Technology Mission for the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

UK Sinha-led RBI Expert Committee on MSMEs had recommended that a technology mission should be launched by the MSME Ministry for convergence of the efforts of various stakeholders for technology upgradation by the sector.

The ministry has prepared a draft discussion paper on 'Promoting Technology Adoption by MSMEs - Mission Document'. The comments have to be sent by January 25, 2020.

RBI had announced setting up the expert committee at the December 2018 monetary policy announcement. The committee’s composition related terms of reference had also been finalized by the end of December 2018.

The other members of the committee include Ram Mohan Mishra, development commissioner for MSME; Pankaj Jain, joint secretary at the department of financial services; PK Gupta, SBI managing director; Anup Bagchi, ICICI Bank executive director; Abhiman Das, IIM Ahmedabad professor; Sharad Sharma, Ispirit Foundation founder; and Bindu Ananth, Dvara Trust chairperson.

The National Technology Mission is a major initiative of the Development Commissioner, the Ministry of MSME to focus on activities modelled around seven different pillars including emerging technology, human capital, access to finance, infrastructure, market place, policy and governance, and knowledge creation.

"The mission aims to converge the efforts of various stakeholders for technology upgradation of MSMEs across the country who have been hitherto operating in isolation. The focus will not just be on technology incubation and adoption but also on providing short term and long-term training programmes, consultancy and facility support to MSMEs," the MSME ministry said.

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