Kolkata, Aug 6 (KNN) West Bengal’s MSME Sector is now number one in the country with more than 35,000 new units having been set up with employment of nearly 3.20 lakh people and highest credit disbursement worth Rs 35,000 crore over the last three years in the state, the state chief minister Mamata Banerjee posted on a social networking site.

"We have been organizing SYNERGY since September, 2013 to provide more customized solutions to the MSME entrepreneurs through hand holding support and personalized guidance," she said on her Facebook page.

Nearly 40,000 entrepreneurs visited the clinics, help desks and technology pavilions and bank loan worth hundreds of crores were sanctioned to nearly 1800 enterprises in this first-ever state level conclave.

"In 2014 we adopted the strategy of taking Synergy closer to the field level and accordingly we organized the first regional Synergy at Siliguri in February this year.

“The second regional Synergy was held at Howrah on 1-2 August, 2014. Loans worth Rs 1000 crore were sanctioned and investment proposals close to Rs 5000 crore were received in the Synergy at Howrah," she further said.

As on March 31, 2010 there are about 15.1 lakh MSMEs in the state providing employment to nearly 35 Lakh people. Traditionally metal and engineering industries have a strong base in the State. All the resources available in the State have helped the growth of other industries like mining, jute, tea, silk, gems and jewellery etc and recently the IT industries.

West Bengal is rich in handicrafts. Handicrafts are traditionally the heritage items of the state. There are as many as 5,50,000 craftsmen engaged in producing a wide range of handicrafts items working  from their homes. (KNN/SD)