The Federation of Small Scale Industries (FSSI) has decided to organise seminars in order to provide guidance and support to the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the state.

FSSI aims to give ideas to the industries on how to get their CRISIL ratings, get an energy audit done, as also conduct joint programmes with the state and the Central agencies.

Looking at the present scenario where the industries are being pulled up by the Central and the state governments for flouting pollution norms, FSSI’s programmes will also provide guidance related with pollution control, safety requirement and pollution in the industry.

The Centre had only recently asked the state government to temporarily ban the setting up of new industries and expansion of the existing ones at Ankleshwar, Panoli and Vapi industrial estates.

FSSI president Pravin Patel said: “In the next few months, we will conduct different programmes on labour laws and pollution control among others. This will educate them about the norms and the rules.”

In view of the losses incurred due to the global meltdown, the federation has urged the government to market the products made by SMEs.

According to FSSI, the export has dropped by over 23 per cent, while the domestic demand has also dipped.

“We are working with the government agencies to make the SMEs aware about various schemes. We are also talking to the governments for marketing the products,” said Patel.

To further boost the SMEs, the federation will organise a buyer-seller meet in Vadodara, where it has more than 750 companies associated with the body.