Question : Global Market

(a) whether the steps are being taken by the Government to help MSMEs exhibit and showcase their products in the global market if so, the details thereof along with the list of programmes underway and the funds allocated for the purpose;

(b) whether the Government has conducted any study or consulted with stakeholders and domain experts on the impact of online retail of MSME products and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has conducted any study on the impact of Covid-19 on MSMEs specialising in heritage and indigenous arts and crafts and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the steps being taken by the Government to promote or develop an online marketplace and digital retail infrastructure for MSMEs specialising in heritage and indigenous arts and crafts?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDMUM ENTERPRISES
(SHRI BHANU PRATAP SINGH VERMA)

(a): To support MSMEs reach out to customers across the world, Ministry is implementing International Cooperation Scheme (ICS) facilitating participation of the MSMEs in International Exhibitions, Trade Fairs, Buyer-seller meets abroad, etc to exhibit and showcase their products. A provision of Rs. 90.00 crore has been made for the financial cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26) under IC Scheme. Details of guidelines of the Scheme are available at the website of the Ministry www.msme.gov.in .

(b) & (c): The adverse impact of Covid-19 pandemic has been felt on the economy including on the MSME sector. The Ministry of MSME on 7th September, 2021 assigned a study to Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), the terms of reference of which inter-alia included assessment of losses suffered by the MSME sector due to Covid-19 pandemic. The said study was based on the survey conducted by SIDBI taking a random sample pool comprising 1,029 MSMEs spread across 20 States and 2 Union Territories. The report of the study submitted on 27th January, 2022, reveals that 67 percent of the respondent MSMEs were temporarily closed for upto a period of 3 months.

(d): A comprehensive B2B Portal- MSMEmart.com is being operated by the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) as a one stop digital solution to all business needs of MSMEs across all sectors and provide next generation services to MSMEs to make them competitive in global market. Further, KVIC is also implementing an e-commerce portal ekhadiindia.com to promote sale of khadi and village industry products online.