TN govt to set up 'product specific' integrated clusters

: Tamil Nadu government has proposed to establish 'product specific' integrated micro, small and medium enterprises clusters in the state at an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore, Finance Minister D Jayakumar said here today.
The four clusters, a textile cluster each in Kancheepuram and Karur districts, food products cluster in Dharmapuri, and a seafood cluster in Ramanathapuram will be taken up along with Japan International Cooperation Agency at an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore, he said, while presenting the budget for the year 2017-18.
In a move to develop coir clusters, the Minister said one cluster each at Negamam, Boodalur and Erode would be set up at a total estimated cost of Rs 22 crore to promote value added coir products.

Meanwhile, Jayakumar said Rs 100 crore has been allocated to the micro, small and medium enterprise sector under the Entrepreneur cum Enterprise Development Scheme (NEEDS).
To give a fillip to start-ups and first generation entrepreneurs, a strategic plan for entrepreneurship and innovation for 2017-2021 would be implemented by the Entrepreneurship Development Institute, he said.
"This programme will focus on building MSME entrepreneur competencies through high-end market training, mentoring, networking and information services across the enterprise life cycle," he said.
It would be funded from a sum of Rs 100 crore that is being allocated in budget estimates 2017-18, he added.