High interest rates, loan disbursals top MSME concerns

“MSMEs have demanded a differential interest rate for the sector. Issues related to working capital and GST were also brought up,” a govt official said.

NEW DELHI: Representatives of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) on Tuesday raised concerns over high interest rates, delays in loan disbursal and banks insistence on collateral for working loans in a meeting with finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

“MSMEs have demanded a differential interest rate for the sector. Issues related to working capital and Goods and Service Tax (GST) were also brought up,” a government official said after the meeting.

Earlier in the day, transport and MSME minister Nitin Gadkari said the MSME sector creates 113 million jobs and the government is giving highest priority to resolve its problems. “The problem with the 59 minutes (loan scheme) is that banks immediately sanction the loan but it is delayed for disbursement.

Today, we have recommended to the banking secretary to find out the reasons for delayed disbursements,” Gadkari said. On Monday, the government had asked banks to extend the ‘psbloanin59minutes’ scheme to the retail sector as well. Also, the scope of the scheme is being expanded to increase the coverage to Rs 5 crore from Rs 1 crore.

 

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*