New Delhi, May 4 (KNN) The MSME Ministry has launched a USD 4-million project in association with Global Environment Facility (GEF) to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy among small and medium enterprises. 

"Of the total funding, the ministry will provide USD 3 million and grant of USD one million will come from the GEF for a period of three years to help small units to use clean energy and become energy efficient," MSME Secretary Madhav Lal said at a FICCI function yesterday. 

"Industry Bodies can play a very important role in creating a comprehensive ecosystem for cleantech interventions in SMEs through this project," he added.

India is the first country, out of ten, where the GEF – United Nations industrial Development organization (UNIDO) Cleantech Project was launched.
 
The project will focus on building a road-map for promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy in India through an disciplinary approach involving SME clusters, ministries, academia, industry associations, state governments, partner agencies and autonomous research centres globally and in other developing countries. 

The project will also help enhance productivity in SMEs and mitigate climate change; and would coordinate with similar international effort.
 
The Cleantech Project will have a special focus on bridging innovators with the investors.
 
 "It is crucial to change the way we produce, consume and invest and private sector can play an important role in catalysing innovations in clean technology," Global Environment Facility (GEF) CEO and Chairperson Naoko Ishii said while launching the project. 

Focussing on the need for SMEs to become globally competitive, the MSME Secretary Madhav Lal said, "We are considering using industry associations as the platform for creating awareness among their members about saving energy and benefits of adoption of green technology innovation." 

The key activities of the Cleantech programme include mentoring and training, linking of value chain, technological transfer and upgradation, access to capital and scaling up. 

"We aim that by 2025 all energy consuming MSMEs in the country shall be energy efficient and will be using clean energy," Development Commissioner in the MSME Ministry Amarendra Sinha said. 

The Cleantech approach and methodologies adopted under the project would build on the green industry initiative and will adapt an inter-disciplinary approach involving SME clusters, national ministries, industrial associations, state governments, partner agencies and autonomous research centres in India and abroad to promote innovative technologies in energy-intensive SME clusters. 

The project will focus on innovative SMEs through an ecosystem approach to promote clean energy technologies and systems. (KNN)