New Delhi, Mar 8 (KNN) In a bid to boost micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the government is considering the establishment of technology centres in each district under a model similar to the One District One Product (ODOP) programme.

These centres will provide MSMEs with access to the latest technology suited to their specific manufacturing needs, an official stated on Friday.

“We are hoping something like ODOP in the technology vertical (tech centres) is established under the hub and spoke model. Every district will have these technology centres on the strength of that particular district so that MSMEs can access technology,” said Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary, Ministry of MSME, during the Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises’ (FISME) international conference.

The government is also shifting focus to nano enterprises—entities even smaller than micro-enterprises—by addressing their challenges, including market access, credit availability, and compliance with sustainability regulations.

“We are looking at nano firms that are below the micro, helping them reach the market, standardise, comply with regulations, meet SDG (United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals), make them sustainable, and empower them under the protection of intellectual property rights,” Epao added.

Additionally, the MSME Ministry aims to formalise over 90 million enterprises through registrations on the Udyam portal by 2029, with more than 50% of them expected to be women-led businesses.

To further strengthen the MSME ecosystem, the government is exploring a vendor development programme that will facilitate access to products developed by government bodies, enhancing collaboration between public and private enterprises.

This initiative aligns with the broader vision of fostering technological advancement and sustainability within India’s growing MSME sector, ensuring enhanced competitiveness on a global scale.

(KNN Bureau)