By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, December 17, 2015 : Metal major National Aluminium Company Ltd [Nalco] will give 15% purchase preference to local micro, small and medium enterprises [MSME], according to maharatna PSU’s chairman and managing director, Tapan Kumar Chand.

Inaugurating MSME-Expo Odisha 2015, along with a 3-day National Level Vendor Development Programme, at Killa Maidan, Cuttack, on Wednesday Chand appreciated the MSMEs for generating employment and urged them to be cost and quality conscious to remain competitive in the market.

About 140 MSMEs, Mother Industries and Financial Institutions are participating in the Expo.

Addressing the representatives of various industries, banks, small enterprises, start-ups, as well as officials of MSME Departments of the State and Centre, Chand informed that Nalco is sourcing Rs.400 crore worth of purchases from MSMEs

“Besides, there is dire need for infrastructure development and consistent energy supply for MSMEs, and Nalco will take the issues up with Government and policy-makers,” the CMD assured.

Among others, P.K. Gupta, Director, MSME Development Institute, Abani Kanungo, President, Odisha Industries Association, N. Palai, Director of Industries and R.K. Das, Chief Materials Manager, East Coast Railways, also addressed the gathering.