Bifurcation has turned out to be a boon for micro, small and medium enterprises in North Andhra, with the Centre’s decision to locate a world-class technology centre at Atchutapuram, 40 km from here.
The Ministry of MSME will invest up to Rs.140 crore on the proposed centre, for which 20 acres are being allotted. “This is a very big development to give a fillip to investments in the MSME sector. We have requested Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Kalraj Mishra to kick-start work on the project by laying the foundation stone,” Visakhapatnam MP K. Haribabu said on Sunday.
After a formal proposal by Visakha Autonagar Small-Scale Industrialists Welfare Association (VASSIWA) and MSME Institute at Autonagar, Gajuwaka, the Centre responded positively to the technology centre proposal. Incidentally, one such centre has been sanctioned in every State.
The Centre will be well-equipped for conducting quality checks as per accredited institutes like NBL and BIS with training facility in high-tech as well as traditional trades, material and products. It will have facilities for energy audit and environment management.
MSME units involve an investment of Rs. 25 lakh to Rs.5 crore. In Visakhapatnam district alone, there are 2,000 units, of which 200 are medium-scale enterprises, VASSIWA founder-president Ramakrishna Narappareddy said.
He added that the centre would boost their business and help upgrade the skills of workforce through training programmes.
NASSCOM and CII have also come forward for collaborations to improve the skills of industrial workforce to ensure better productivity. The Centre has already sanctioned the post of Director for MSME Institute in the city.
