Railways promotes small enterprises, reserves procurement of over 350 items from MSE sector

There are a total of 9,973 MSE vendors registered on the Indian Railways procurement portal and Rs 4,400 crore worth of materials are procured in a year from the sector.

The state-run transporter has firmed up an action plan to increase participation of the MSE sector in the public transporter’s procurement.

In addition to the 358 items including handicraft and painting brushes exclusively reserved for procurement from MSEs, railways will now allow the sector in procurement of several other items also.

The official said MSEs will be now encouraged to participate in the business of maintenance and operation of rolling stock and also in procurement of cables, linen, paints, coupler body, wall panelling, cutting and drilling machines.

Recently the national transporter has organised a meeting to increase the participation of micro and small enterprises in railway procurement.

The meeting was attended by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and senior officials from the ministry and the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) besides MSE vendors.

Stakeholders from railways were advised to extend their support to MSEs and take steps for their development.

The Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), the research wing of the Railways, was advised to extend its support to MSE vendors on technical issues and SIDBI was advised to provide financial support to MSEs.