Assocham, Israel to join hands for incubation centres in Gujarat

The Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Assocham) will join hands with Israel for setting up incubation centres in the state. Meanwhile, the industry body has asked the state government to set up Clusters Development Authority (CAD) and SMEs Development & Financial Corporation for making Gujarat a hub for SMEs.

Assocham believes that as the present incubation centres in Gujarat are government-run, the outcome does not match with the industry demand. "Just like private educational institutes, there must be private incubation centres so as to train youth as per industry demand," said Bhagyesh Soneji, chairperson of Assocham, Gujarat. She said that the industry body will sign a memorandum of understanding with Israel for setting up incubation centres in the state.

Soneji also said that demand for Gujarat is different from that of other states and the state needs more skilled manpower in field of pharmaceutical and textile among other sectors.

Moreover, the industry body has also suggested the Gujarat government to set up CAD and SMEs to make Gujarat an SME hub. "The proposed corporations should target establishment of 50,000 SMEs every year and arrest sickness in this sector by ensuring availability of finances at affordable rates for technology upgradation and expansion," said DS Rawat, Assocham national general secretary.

He also said that Assocham and MCX will organise road-shows in Gujarat to educate and create awareness amongst the 4 lakh existing SMEs for rating and make available expertise for listing in the SMEs Exchanges and mobilise resources. In five years, the state can add 2.5 lakh new SMEs and create 25 lakh additional jobs particularly in agri, food-processing and handicrafts in addition to the existing sectors, said Rawat.

The industry body will also play facilitator role for setting up clusters in state's two districts with support of UNIDO. Apart from Gujarat, clusters will also be set up in Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar and West Bengal. The decision to set which kind of clusters will be taken after accessing production and availability of resources. In addition, the organisation will also set up 25 skill development centres in the state.