In a bid to give a boost to the small and medium industries sector as well as launching a movement for entrepreneurship development in the State, the MSME Department is all set to host the Odisha MSME International Trade Fair 2014 from January 1 next year.
The first of its kind event in the State will not only showcase MSME products and developments from the country and abroad but also seek to be a catalyst in driving youth towards entrepreneurship. The seven-day trade fair organised by the MSME Department and NSIC would focus on technology for self-employment.
The expo would have more than 300 MSME participants including some leading brands and manufacturers of the country and abroad apart from a host of innovators, banks and financial organisations, management and consultancy firms, packaging, quality control as well as marketing.
While States like Gujarat will have a strong presence, international participation would include European Union, South Africa, Hungary, Czech Republic and Bhutan.
It would facilitate interactions between domestic enterprises and large industries through buyer-seller meets and special marketing assistance for them.
But the major catch would be demonstration of more than 55 new technologies and innovations in different sectors like food processing, small engineering, sanitary ware and engineering parts.
"These would be of great interest and help to the budding entrepreneurs. We have asked all the engineering and management colleges of the Capital and other parts to send students to the fair so as to be sensitised on entrepreneurship and the opportunities available for them. Unemployed youths from the grassroots will also be facilitated to take part in the fair that will see live demonstrations, seminars and workshops," Secretary of MSME Panchanan Dash said.
The State Government has made entrepreneurship development a vital part of its Youth Policy and announced an ambitious target to create more than 10,000 entrepreneurs by the end of March, 2014.
It has offered to provide all hand-holding support to ensure the enterprises of rural youth settle in.
The Government is also working on formulation of Odisha Entrepreneurship Development Policy to drive innovation and entrepreneurship in the State in the long run.