Be part of 'Make in India': Maharashtra minister Subhash Desai urges small-businessmen

THANE: Maharashtra Industries Minister Subhash Desai today urged small industrialists to take active part in the ' Make in India Week 2016' which is to be held in neighbouring Mumbai in February.

"Every effort will be made by the Industries Department to reserve one stall for the MSMEs of the state (Maharashtra) for their betterment" Desai said here at the concluding ceremony of the three-day industrial meet organised by the Chamber Of Small Industries Association (COSIA) and Micro Small Medium Enterprises Department.

"Unless the Make in Maharashtra (programme) is implemented successfully, the Make in India (initiative) will be incomplete," the Minister said.

Desai also informed about the initiatives taken by his department for the sake of small industrialists.

"Programmes of skill development, helping sick units and also helping them by providing capital were some of the measures taken by the government to assist the small units," Desai, a senior Shiv Sena leader, said.

He also heaped praise on Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

"We both (Desai and Fadnavis) toured foreign countries and returned with commitment from the industries that they will put up their units in Maharashtra.

"However, many were saying that we were focusing on big industries. I am unable to understand weather I should take it as a criticism or appreciation," he added.

According to the Minister, once the big industries come up in Maharashtra, the small ones will also automatically follow and flourish in their business.

Meanwhile, Desai claimed that GM informed them that they are putting up unit worth Rs 6,400 crore in Maharashtra and are withdrawing all their investments in Gujarat.

Regarding Foxconn, he further claimed that they inspected the locations in Gujarat and Hyderabad and said that they did not not like them and hence came down to Maharashtra.

Thane MP Rajan Vichare, Thane District Guardian Minister Eknath Shinde and COSIA President Appa MR Khambete were also present on the occasion.

The Centre will hold the 'Make in India Week 2016' from February 13 in Mumbai with an aim to promote India as an investment destination and increase its share in global FDI.