Maharashtra seeks Thailand's support to uplift SMEs at higher level: Industries & Mining Min

New Delhi, Aug 4 (KNN) Thailand and Maharashtra can work together to uplift the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to higher levels.

This was said by Subhash Desai, Minister for Industries and Mining, Government of Maharashtra at the roundtable discussion on SMEs with business delegation from Thailand at the World Trade Centre, Mumbai.

He said that the SMEs in Thailand and Maharashtra can explore joint collaborations in food processing, dairy, textiles and information technology sectors.

Expecting Thailand’s support for value addition in the textile sector, Desai said Maharashtra has set up a dedicated textile park and nine more are in the process of being developed.

 He said “My dream is to see majority of garments in the world market to be labeled as ‘Made in India’ products.”

Speaking about government support to SMEs, the minister informed, “Maharashtra has special policy for SMEs and the government supports SMEs in land allotment, licensing, reservation and procurement so that they do not have to compete with large enterprises.”

During the event, Dr. Wimonkarn Kosumas, Deputy Director General, Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion of Thailand outlined a four-point program to strengthen bilateral ties between India and Maharashtra. 

Specifically, Dr. Kosumas sought India’s strategic partnership in digitizing SMEs in the country.

The four-point program mentioned by her are setting up a dedicated Maharashtra desk in the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP) in Thailand, holding Thailand-Maharashtra SME festival (including round table discussion and trade fair) next year, linking artisans and craftsmen of Maharashtra with the designers in Thailand and promoting SME collaboration in food packaging technologies.

Dr. Kosumas invited SMEs from Maharashtra to participate in the forthcoming trade events in Thailand such as Propak Asia (June 12-15, 2019), Food Pack Asia 2019.

She also highlighted the success of Thailand’s export-promotion program OTOP (One Tambon One Product) and expressed willingness to share this experience with India.

Speaking on this occasion, Ekapol Poolpipat, Consul General, Royal Thai Consulate-General, Mumbai said that Maharashtra is not only the financial and commercial hub of India, it is also one of the largest markets in the country.

He said “My mission is to promote bilateral partnership in three areas: commerce, innovation and culture.”

Mr. Vijay Kalantri, Vice Chairman, MVIRDC World Trade Centre Mumbai and President, All India Association of Industries said, “India’s bilateral trade with Thailand is USD 10.8 billion and we have the potential to double this volume in the next three years.”

Shedding light on the Maharashtra food processing sector, he said that Maharashtra is a leading producer of mangoes, Chicku, grapes, banana and other food crops. However, 40% of food crops perish before reaching market.

Therefore, we need more food processing units and cold storages near farm gate. This is the right opportunity to develop partnership with Thailand in food processing sector as Indian government aims to double the income of farmers by 2022, Kalantri added.

The round table discussion was attended by government officials of Maharashtra and business delegates of food processing and packaging industries in Thailand and India.