Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) Secretary Arun Kumar Panda has said that the MSME Ministry is actively considering organising a National Conclave to bring together all relevant stakeholders under one roof and deliberate over the challenges and solutions related to the successful execution and fulfillment of Procurement Policy.

The Secretary was speaking at the first National SC-ST Hub Conclave on September 12 at Scope Complex in New Delhi. He informed that the proposed conclave will be a confluence of Central Ministries, government departments, Central Public Sector Enterprises, incubators, knowledge partners, banks, etc and showcase products manufactured by MSME entrepreneurs (especially ones from SC/ST enterprises).

“The national conclave will bring together all stakeholders at one place and showcase the products of SC/ST entrepreneurs to every CPSE and potential buyer so that people know the kind of products these enterprises are capable of manufacturing,” Panda told SMEpost.

The National Conclave is likely to shape up by October-end or by first week of coming November.

The Secretary also urged MSMEs to register on the Government e-Market (GeM) portal, pointing out the enormous opportunities it opens up for these opportunities.

“MSEs should put these items on GeM. The portal holds immense potential and has done tremendously well for small enterprises. We are especially taking up with Central ministries and CPSEs in this regard so that the SC/ST enterprises can benefit from it,” he told SMEpost.

Government formulated the Public Procurement Policy back in 2012 which mandates a procurement of at least 20 per cent goods and services by Central Ministries, Departments and CPSEs from MSEs and to further ensure that 20 per cent of that procurement (4 per cent of total) is made from SC & ST-owned MSEs.