GCCI to take help of PSUs to revive closed SMEs in Gujarat

To support 'Make In India' campaign, the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) will take help of PSUs to revive the closed small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the state. "Under 'Make In India', government insists to develop ancillaries of defence and other sectors at home rather than importing them. If units, which were shut down for some reasons can be revived, they can contribute to the programme," said GCCI President Rohit Patel said today.

While the state has over 3.5 lakh SMEs, more than 48,000 have been shut down over the years owing to reasons ranging from financial difficulties to failure to modernise their machineries, he said on the sidelines of an event here. "These units may no longer be in production but they still have space infrastructure and machineries which can be used to revive them, if they get right support and direction," Patel said. The GCCI will organise an industry event to bring together representatives of such SME units and (public sector units) PSUs - both central and state - so they can discuss ways to revive their activities.

Engineering and automobile ancillary units will be the most to benefit from this interaction, he added. However, he did not disclose name of any PSU. Talks are still on to invite them, Patel said.

"We have approached both state and central PSUs, but mostly central PSUs to interact with the representatives of these units and explore if infrastructure and space available with them can be used to revive them," he said. The industry body is organising a meet on April 29-30 in Gandhinagar where representatives (of the industry), PSUs and government will interact for mutual benefit and promote of Make In India, he said. The function will also be attended by Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, he added.