MSMEs should focus on promoting exports: Mamta Banerjee

New Delhi, Aug 23 (KNN) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) should focus on promoting exports and state government officials too need to work in tandem with MSMEs to promote exports and help them gain access to international market.

This was said by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee after inaugurating the two-day State MSME Conclave.

She said “Think of the future and develop products that will cater to the export markets. There is a huge growth opportunity there. The State government officials will help you out as and where necessary.”

The state government, in association with various sector specific export facilitation centres, is looking to push MSME exports, she added.

Government data pegs MSME exports from the State at Rs62,000 crore.

Banerjee said, “New markets such as Europe can be explored.”

Besides, she has asked the state cooperative banks to look for ways to increase lending to MSMEs

“Bank credit has to go up. I urge the State cooperative banks to see if they can explore credit options for MSMEs,” she added.

Nearly ₹1.74 lakh crore worth of bank credit has already been extended to the sector over the last seven years, a government brochure said.

State cooperative banks, who already provide loans through Kisan Credit Cards, could explore similar options for MSMEs.

Bengal currently has 53 lakh MSME units, employing about 1.1 crore people. Nearly 28,000 new MSMEs are set up every year in the State.