Visakhapatnam, Mar 9 (KNN) Long pending demand of setting up a state level Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) unit has been met as the Visakhapatnam branch of MSME-DI has been upgraded as the State level unit.

Earlier the city office was under the control of the office in Hyderabad. It will now function independently.

After bifurcation, there was a demand from the MSME units to set up the State level unit in the city, which is known as the industrial hub of the State.

Reportedly, on March 6, an order to this effect has been issued by the Development Commissioner (MSME), Ministry of MSME.

''Full administrative and financial powers have been given to the Visakhapatnam branch office that was opened in 1983,'' said a circular.

Speaking on the same, Visakha Autonagar Small-Scale Industrialists Welfare Association president A K Balaji said, “The move will be a shot in the arm of MSMEs in the State as they are the major contributor to the GDP and job creation. We thank Union Minister of State for MSME Pratap Chandra Sarangi and then MP K Haribabu.”

Haribabu further said efforts to make Visakhapatnam office full-fledged with freedom from control of Hyderabad head office was initiated in 2014.

So far, Visakhapatnam district has about 14,000 registered MSMEs with an estimated turnover of 25,000 crore to 30,000 crore.

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