Image credit : Illustrative Image

The second edition of MSME Expo-2017, beginning

here from December 15, will act as a common platform to connect the government, public sector undertakings, MNCs and international business communities with Indian Micro and Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).

The two-day expo, jointly organised by MSME Development Institute here and Coimbatore SIDCO Industrial Estate Manufacturers Association (KOSIEMA), will have participation of 80 MSME units, who will exhibit their products. Twenty major outsourcing companies, buyers and PSUs will be part of the expo, institute Deputy Director (in-charge) S Satheesh Kumar told reporters here.

The first edition had generated a business worth Rs 18 crore, he said and this year the organisers targeted Rs 50 crore, particularly from Indian Railways, which has increased its purchase quota to Rs 300 crore from Rs 70 crore.

With the public procurement policy ensuring 20 per cent purchase from MSMEs, the expo with the participation of ISRO, DRDO and other defence establishments was bound to have increased business, Satheeshkumar added.

Though the MSME sector was affected initially by the implementation of Goods and Services Tax, it was now picking up and would soon be back to normal business, KOSIEMA president S Surulivel said.

The expo would also help first general entrepreneurs and aspirants to start new ventures as 10 major nationalised banks would be participating, he added.