Trichy, Aug 5 (KNN) The BHEL Small and Medium Industries Association (Bhelsia) has requested the Tamil Nadu government to set up a panel to secure defence and railway components production order for MSMEs in Trichy.

The association has expressed disappointment at the inability to cash in on the benefits of the Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor (TNDIC) project in the last two years.

Suggesting the formation of a committee to pull investments Bhelsia said that it must consists of representatives from all the five nodal cities namely Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Salem and Hosur.

The committee can be formed either under the guidance of Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) or Tamil Nadu Industrial Investment Corporation (TIIC), said Bhelsia representatives during their meeting with the state minister for industries Thangam Thennarasu.

“It is high time governments stopped spending money on exhibitions and seminars. Authorities must help MSMEs get defence and railway components production orders. Export opportunities must be explored too,” Rajappa Rajkumar, president, of Bhelsia, said.

The association members urged the Minister to facilitate more clusters and incubation centres in the nodal cities for developing modern components.  (KNN Bureau)