MOEF+FICCI to jointly support SMEs

A closed door interactive session was organized between the Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh and industry representatives, by the Federation of Indian Chambers and Commerce and Industry (FICCI) at Federation House, here today.

This came as a great opportunity for the industry as it created a platform for them to directly interact with the Minster and put forward their concerns. The Minster very sportingly accepted the proposal by FICCI, in coming up with a Facilitation centre based on the PPP (public Private partnership) model, with fifty percent share in equity as well. “There is already a joint ventures exiting between the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) called the Investment Promotion Centre, and one relating to Intellectual property Rights is also underway. We are very much willing to set up a similar centre in joint venture with FICCI that will play an advisory role in providing the SMEs with information regarding environmental rules, regulations, standards and norms. The aim will be to help the small and medium industries comply with the environmental norms of the nation,” spoke Jairam Ramesh.

He further said that he would provide intellectual as well as financial support to this joint venture and suggested on working on a PPP model with fifty percent equity investment. He also agreed to meet the SME industry in a closed interactive session that will be organized quarterly staring this April, where he would like to interact with them and know more about the problems they are facing regarding environmental issues.

There were detailed discussion on issues concerning plastic waste management rules, and regulations regarding hazardous waste management. In the interactive session, the group also came upon discussing issues relating to conversation of waste into energy and municipal solid waste management schemes. But one suggestion that got a majority approval was need to introduce fiscal incentives as well as disincentives for relative industry performance. To this the Minster agreed and put forward the fact that he has already sent a proposal to the Finance Minister for the same.

The meeting was attended by industry representatives and moderated by Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Director General, FICCI, Harish Pati Singania, Past President, FICCI and Dr. Amit Mitra, Secretary General, FICCI were amongst the others who were present at the interactive session.