MSME to provide training to potential entrepreneurs for export of produce

Kolkata: The state Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and Textiles department has decided to provide necessary training to potential entrepreneurs from Bengal to export properly at least one product from each district.

The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) will provide the training and there is a meeting in this regard between the top brass of the MSME and Textiles department and IIFT on Monday.

The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) and Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) representatives will also be present in the meeting. There will be a thorough discussion on the training for the entrepreneurs in the meeting.

According to a senior official of the state government, a series of initiatives have been taken to ensure export of MSME products from the state and now the initiative has been taken up to provide professional training to "potential exporters" from every district to make them learn all aspects of exporting their produce to different countries.

It may be mentioned that the state government has already taken a major step forward in this regard by providing training to 90 officials of the MSME and Textiles department on the same. The training to the officials was provided by IIFT in three phases. The officials, who underwent the training, are mainly posted in the districts which will help them to easily identify the scope of exporting the MSME products.

"After the officials' training, steps have been taken to provide training to potential exporters from the districts," said a senior official of the department adding that there is a meeting scheduled for Monday regarding the same.

The official further added that this is the first time when such a training programme for MSME entrepreneurs is going to be organised. "With the training, the entrepreneurs will get to know what steps they need to take to export their produce," the official said.

"There could be a number of MSME products, rather than one, that could be exported from a district in future. But initially, we are giving stress on the export of the most famous or popular MSME product of a district and accordingly the training would be provided," the official maintained.

Citing certain examples, the official said that foundry products including manhole covers from Howrah, musical instruments from North 24-Parganas, Santiniketan's leather goods from Birbhum, readymade garments from South 24-Parganas and mustard oil from Raiganj are the products that can be easily exported. There is a heavy demand for Santiniketan leather goods that are hand-dyed and very popular across the globe and training has been provided for the same to those involved in making them.