MSMEs Can Now Apply for Fire and Rescue NOC Through KSWIFT Portal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Kerala can now obtain Fire and Rescue NOC (No-Objection Certificate) through the online KSWIFT (Kerala Single Window Interface for Fast and Transparent Clearance) portal launched by Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC).

KSWIFT’s latest service to provide online Fire and Rescue NOC is part of the Government’s various initiatives to enhance Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) in the state.

Fire and Rescue NOC, issued by the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services Department, ensures that a building or industrial unit complies with fire safety norms and has adequate preventive measures in place. Obtaining this certificate is often mandatory for MSMEs, especially if the business involves manufacturing, storage, or handling of materials that pose fire risks.

Instead of going through multiple offices and paper work, applicants can now submit their request through the KSWIFT portal, https://www.kswift.kerala.gov.in/index/

Through KSWIFT, entrepreneurs can also apply online for various other mandatory clearances from multiple departments required to start and operate businesses. Currently, KSWIFT offers services of 22 Departments / Agencies, wherein all the applications can be submitted through a unified Common Application Form (CAF).

The Year of Enterprises (YOE) initiative launched by the Kerala Government in 2022-23 for building a highly conducive ecosystem for MSME sector has far exceeded its expectations leading to the creation of over 3,50,000 MSMEs during 2022-25.

The government is continuously striving to simplify and rationalise procedures through KSWIFT and other initiatives for starting MSME units. At the grassroots, the local bodies have been leveraged for monitoring the progress of the scheme, besides roping in the state’s robust startup ecosystem for technology support.