New Delhi, Mar 7 (KNN) Union Minister of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Nitin Gadkari has said that it is not easy for entrepreneurs to avail bank loans and there is a need to encourage those who have a good track record to boost entrepreneurship.

While addressing a conference on Empowering Women Entrepreneurs here, Gadkari asserted, "Wherever you go, it is not easy to get a bank loan."

Referring to the need for cutting delays in decision making or project implementation, the minister said he has started a practice of maintaining timeline so as to expedite and monitor the process.

The Minister further said that they soon we are going to have an e-market place like Alibaba for MSME products.

''The ministry is setting up a portal in various languages to inform people about various schemes and incentives offered by the Centre as well as state governments, with a view to promote entrepreneurship,'' said MSME Secretary Arun Kumar Panda.

later Panda informed that goods worth about Rs 300 crore have already been procured from women entrepreneurs after 3 per cent sourcing from women entrepreneurs was made mandatory for ministries and state owned enterprises.

''Central Ministries and PSUs are procuring 25 per cent from MSMEs and it has been directed that 4 per cent of purchases should be from SC/ST entrepreneurs and 3 per cent from women entrepreneurs,'' Panda added.

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