Baddi (Himachal Pradesh), Feb 20 (IANS): Union Minister for Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises Kalraj Mishra along with Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Saturday laid the foundation stone of a Rs.102.32 crore technology centre to be set up in this industrial town.
It would be commissioned under the Technology Centre Systems Programme of the central government.
Speaking on the occasion, Mishra said the technology centres would cater to the needs of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by providing them with access to technology, skill development and consultancy services.
He said the World Bank had sanctioned Rs.2,200 crore for setting up the technology centres at 15 places in the country.
So far 10 places have been identified.
He thanked the state government for providing land free of cost for the technology centre.
Similar technology centres were coming up in other states, including Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Uttarakhand, where more than 100,000 youth would be trained.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said in April 2012 when he was the union minister for medium, small and micro enterprises that a mini tool room centre was sanctioned by him for Baddi, the state's prominent industrial hub in Solan district.
He said 40 percent of exports were done by MSMEs and the technology centre would play a pivotal role in strengthening the economy.
Himachal Pradesh has more than 500 medium and large scale and 40,000 small scale units with an investment of over Rs.18,000 crore.
The union ministry for medium, small and micro enterprises contributes 95 percent of all industrial enterprises and 40 percent of industrial output.
"For this very reason the medium, small and micro industrial sector is regarded as the engine of the Indian economy and the largest employment provider in the industries," he added.
The technology centre will have infrastructure to provide professional training among others in tool making, metal cutting, maintenance, advance welding, information technology and industrial automation.