UP MSME dept to double exports to Rs 3 lakh crores in 5 yrs

Lucknow, April 17: Uttar Pradesh government aims to lay foundation stones for three flatted factory complexes in Agra, Kanpur and Gorakhpur, a mini-industrial area in Aligarh as well as convenience centers at Sant Kabirdas Nagar and Chandauli in the next 100 days. Besides, the Department of MSME seeks to start infrastructure improvement works at Farrukhabad and Talkatora (Lucknow), while increasing the cost of Mukhyamatri Yuva Swarojgar Yojana from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 1 crore. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the Department of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises and Export Promotion to achieve its ambitious targets in the time-bound manner in order to enhance investments and production, generate employment for the youth on a massive scale and boost exports, officials here on Sunday said. The CM’s directive follows a presentation by the department to the Yogi 2.0 Cabinet on its targets for 100 days, six months, two years and five years. The MSME & Export Promotion Department seeks to increase MSME exports to Rs 2 lakh crore in the next couple of years and 3 lakh crores in five years through an array of initiatives. The initiatives include setting up of six MSME parks across the state, setting up mega leather cluster in Kanpur and increasing the disbursal of credit to MSME sector to Rs five lakh crore in cooperation with banks, which will pave way for creation of 5 crore jobs. Importantly, Uttar Pradesh has witnessed a 41 percent jump in its export value in the last five years from Rs 88,967 crore in 2017-18 to 125,903.76 crore in 2021-22 (till January 2022), which is expected to reach Rs 150,000 crore by the end of this year. Meanwhile, the department aims to distribute tool kits and facilitate loans for 5 lakh and 1.5 lakh artisans under Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana and the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme in the next five years. Furthermore, the department has set the ambitious target of attracting investments worth Rs 8 lakh crore and double sales of ODOP products in the next five years. (UNI)