AICA along with 170 MSME Associations discuss issues related to raw material price hike and industry challenges

Ludhiana: A press conference was organized by All India Council of Association of MSMEs (AICA), with 170 MSME Associations to discuss the raw material price hike and the industry challenges.

Upkar Singh Ahuja, President, CICU and S.C Ralhan, President, Ludhiana Hand Tool Association addressed the press conference as representative from Punjab Industry and put forward the demands from MSME’s.

Upkar Singh Ahuja highlighted the following points: 
•        Export of Steel and iron ore should be banned for 6 months.
•        Coke mines closed due to environmental cleanliness, must be permitted to operate their mines.
•        Priority must be given to MSMEs and distribution of Steel must be made in transparent manner by Steel authority of India. More steps should be taken by Govt. in enhancing the capacity of steel production in coming years and quick clearance should be given to projects.
•        Incentive in PLI to be given to MSME producing components from steel like Auto components ,bicycle and components, Hand tools, sewing machine and parts, Hardware  etc.
 S.C Ralhan raised the following issues:
•        There should be a dedicated steel hub for MSME’s.
•        40% of the steel manufactured should be reserved for MSME.
•        Rather than direct export of steel and iron ore, we should work in value addition on these products as finished products sells at higher price than the raw products. For example if export steel for rs 100 products made from steel like Auto components ,bicycle and components, Hand tools, sewing machine and parts, Hardware  fetch higher realization in tune of rs 200to 400 per kg
•        Raw Material Price Hike should be controlled by the Govt. to save the MSMEs
CICU requested the government to support MSME in export products and not just only in steel. Steel manufacturers are enchasing the opportunities at cost of MSME survival, share price and profitability. Steel producers must calculate the price on production plus profit basis not matching the international steel price.

The representation given by Upkar Singh Ahuja was highly appreciated by the Core Team of All India Council of Association of MSMEs (AICA).

More than 170 industry associations and senior industrialists attended the press conference from Pan India.