Karnataka plans skill upgradation of SMEs

The Karnataka government proposes to organise skill upgradation programmes for the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) segment and "is in the process of drafting detailed guidelines towards achieving this. This is extremely crucial in today's globalised world as SMEs are looking to expand their business and compete with global firms," R K Khatri, state commissioner for industrial development, said.

There was a need for creating a common database on SMEs, which will provide information relating to export opportunities, government policies and guidelines, and bank facilities available to them.

This kind of database could be created by industry chambers in association with the state government. He suggested that the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) take lead in creating the database and assured government support for doing so.

Speaking at a one-day seminar on "SMEs-Opportunities for Strategic Growth" organised by FKCCI, here on Wednesday, Khatri said that such a database could be created jointly in association with the Karnataka Council for Technology Upgradation (KCTU) and the Visvesvaraya Industrial Trade Centre (VITC).

The state government is also considering conducting a study on the problems and challenges faced by the small and medium enterprises in the state.