Delhi has begun setting up a central micro and small enterprises hub and six district-level business facilitation centres to help businesses obtain clearances, access finance, adopt technology and reach wider markets, according to documents seen by the Times of India and an official familiar with the plan.
The proposed network is intended to operate as a single-window support system for entrepreneurs who currently have to approach different departments and agencies for assistance. The centres will provide guidance on statutory approvals, business finance, technology adoption, digital platforms, supply chains, exports and access to domestic and international markets.
The initiative covers a large enterprise base in the capital. Delhi has around 13.2 lakh micro, small and medium enterprises, of which nearly 9.7 lakh are registered on the Udyam portal, according to the project document. More than 96% of these enterprises are micro units, and the sector provides livelihoods to over 6 million people.
The proposed central hub will function as the technical and knowledge centre for the six business facilitation centres. It is planned to have four full-time industry experts specialising in international trade, product development and management, technology and sustainability. These experts will provide specialised advice and assist the district centres with more complex cases.
The hub will also conduct sectoral, cluster-wise and district-level studies to identify opportunities and problems faced by businesses. It will empanel industry experts and mentors and organise technical consultations, workshops and advisory sessions through the facilitation-centre network. The project documents say the arrangement is intended to ensure a standardised level of service across all six centres.
The centres are being proposed specifically for micro and small enterprise units. Under the Union government’s classification, a micro enterprise can have investment of up to Rs 2.5 crore and annual turnover of up to Rs 10 crore. A small enterprise can have investment of up to Rs 25 crore and turnover of up to Rs 100 crore.
The programme is being taken up under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance initiative, or RAMP, which is supported by the World Bank and implemented through the Union MSME ministry. The Delhi government has already invited expressions of interest to select an agency for the project.
The selected agency will be responsible for establishing, staffing and operating the central hub and the six centres during the project period. Its responsibilities will include providing office infrastructure, information technology systems, furniture, maintenance, housekeeping and other operational support. The next formal step is the selection of the agency that will establish and run the proposed network.
