‘MSME Helpdesk’ Will Ensure Sustainability of New Ventures: Minister

KOCHI:
Highlighting the importance of providing professional guidance for budding enterprises, Minister for Law, Industries and Coir P. Rajeeve today said through the launch of the ‘MSME Helpdesk’ the government will ensure stability and sustainability of enterprises by offering them exclusive financial services.

Rajeeve was speaking at the state-level inauguration of the ‘MSME Helpdesk,’ a joint initiative of the Department of Industries and Commerce (DIC), Government of Kerala, and Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), Kerala Chapter, here.

The Minister also inaugurated the one-day Tax Audit Seminar for chartered accountants on the occasion.

The services of the helpdesk will be available on the first Saturday of every month from September 2 between 11 am to 1 pm. Firming up the partnership, DIC signed an MoU with ICAI, the world’s second largest professional body of chartered accountants, in April this year.

Noting that DIC and ICAI will work as a team, Rajeeve said the department is planning to create a favourable ecosystem for the growth of industries by roping in professional bodies like ICAI and new enterprises together to effectively leverage their expertise and service.

“A slew of projects being implemented by the DIC for encouraging entrepreneurship have yielded good results with plenty of new ventures coming up in Kerala. The department is also implementing various activities to ensure the sustainability and growth of these enterprises,” he said.

Rajeeve noted that the government has identified 22 specific sectors in the new Industrial Policy in its efforts to give an impetus to the growth of the industrial sector.

In his special address, Director of Industries and Commerce S Harikishore, said the ‘MSME Helpdesk’ will facilitate services of experts in finance, tax and audit to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), besides updating entrepreneurs with all information and providing expertise to develop their ideas into a full-scale ventures.

“Entrepreneurs will get services and advice on topics including taxation and availing loans. A special officer from DIC will be deployed at the helpdesk to brief them about government subsidies and other facilitations,” Harikishore said.

Entrepreneurs can avail the services of the ‘MSME Helpdesk’ free of cost from the nine regional offices of ICAI situated in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode and Kannur on the first Saturday of every month.

The helpdesk will have the presence of an official from the DIC and a chartered accountant from ICAI Chapter to give a comprehensive service on matters including business structuring, taxation and DPR preparation for availing loan to entrepreneurs. The government official will also provide details regarding government subsidy and facilitation licence.

Chairperson of ICAI Branch, Ernakulam, Deepa Varghese, welcomed the gathering. Fellow Member of ICAI, Ramanath V; Former Central Council Member of ICAI Babu Abraham Kallivayalil; and Secretary of ICAI Branch, Ernakulam, Anand A S were also present.