Kochi, Sept 8 (KNN) The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has set a target to support 250 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) using its network of centres of excellence (CoE) in India. 

The industry body’s chairman Kamal Bali told reporters on Thursday that CII has also identified Kottayam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Kozhikode districts as focus areas over the next few years for MSME development.

MSMEs account for the largest chunk of manufacturing in the country, he said. 

“One of the difficulties with the MSMEs related to scaling them,” he pointed out. 

CII expertise through its centres of excellence will help the MSMEs in the state get proficient in all the areas of a business enterprise, said the Chief. 

Bali also said that CII is looking to establish a centre of excellence in Kerala. The Confederation has five centres of excellence in South India.

CII has identified several pillars for future growth and excellence. These include people and culture to overcome any emergency-like situations such as the one triggered by COVID-19 pandemic, holistic sustainability, technology adoption and digital transformation, energy transition, innovation and start-up ecosystem, manufacturing excellence, specially for MSMEs, partnerships, international linkages and brand building.

CII is looking to use Kerala’s strength in areas like Ayurveda, tourism, hospitality industry and spices. An Ayurveda summit later this year is expected to help build the Kerala brand in the area, he added.  (KNN Bureau)