By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, March 7, 2017: The aluminium major, National Aluminium Company Ltd is considering increasing the purchase preference from MSMEs, from existing 15% to 20%.

Addressing a seminar on ‘Developing MSME Sector in Odisha’ on Tuesday, as part of the MSME Trade Fair here, chairman-cum-managing director of Nalco Dr. Tapan Kumar Chand said Nalco provides a large market for the MSMEs of Odisha and has supported the growth of the sector as a responsible Mother Plant.

Dr. Chand made it clear that the company is interested in greater collaboration by entering into an MoU with the Department of MSME to further boost the small and medium scale industries of the State.

Citing Nalco as a promoter of MSMEs, he informed that the company made purchases amounting to Rs.350 crore from MSMEs recently, out of which orders worth Rs. 250 crore were from Odisha-based MSMEs. “The percentage will go up in the future, because Nalco is now focused towards inclusive growth by supporting the MSME and ancillary industries of the State,” assured Dr. Chand.

“Nalco already has a system in place to support its MSME vendors. The company has played an exemplary role in providing specific drawings, designs, technology and service support to MSMEs for producing the products required by the company. The company also has an online grievance redress mechanism,” informed Dr. Chand.

Comparing the large industries and MSMEs, to trunk and roots, he emphasized the importance of MSMEs by citing that if the roots are alive the trunk can survive and develop into a big tree.