Chandigarh, September 15 — Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has said that small industries are the real force behind the success of campaigns like Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. He emphasized that the pace and scale of India’s rise in the 21st century owes much to MSMEs, and Haryana is committed to supporting them with special schemes and incentives.
Speaking as the chief guest at the national convention of Laghu Udyog Bharati held at Sadhna and Village Development Centre in Samalkha, Panipat district, Saini said that the three-day industrial brainstorming would pave new directions for MSME growth. He added that such events would guide young entrepreneurs who will write the story of a “Developed India – Developed Haryana.”
The Chief Minister highlighted that Haryana covers only 1.3 percent of India’s geographical area, yet it contributes 3.6 percent to the national GDP as per advance estimates for 2024–25. The state’s Gross State Domestic Product has grown at 10.8 percent annually over the past decade. Thousands of MSMEs operating in unauthorized industrial areas of Faridabad, Panipat, Yamunanagar, and Ambala have already been given relief. Haryana is also developing 10 new IMTs (Integrated Multi-Modal Townships), including Ambala, Jind, and Faridabad-Palwal, with land acquisition underway.
He underlined Haryana’s progress in ease of doing business, where the state has reduced over 1,100 regulatory compliances across 48 departments. Over the past 11 years, 7.66 lakh MSMEs have been set up, creating employment for 39 lakh people. Haryana has also emerged as the seventh-largest state in India for startups, with more than 9,100 recognized startups and 19 unicorn companies. The government aims to increase women’s participation in startups from 50 percent to 60 percent.
To strengthen the ecosystem, a ₹2,000 crore “Fund of Funds” is being created with private investors to provide financial assistance to startups. Haryana has also launched a ₹10 crore fund to encourage AI-driven startups and promote drone technology, with 500 young farmers in Karnal already receiving training. Around 28,000 food processing units have been set up in the state, supported by a 50 percent capital investment subsidy under the Mini Food Park scheme.
Union Minister of Energy, Housing and Urban Development Manohar Lal also addressed the event, stressing the crucial role of MSMEs in employment generation and industrial growth. He said that central and state governments are promoting an industry-friendly culture, while GST reforms with fewer tax slabs have simplified business operations. Highlighting the growing participation of women in industries, he said that small industries must also bring more women into leadership and ownership roles.
He further pointed out that India must boost exports through MSMEs to strengthen foreign reserves and achieve its target of becoming the world’s third-largest economy, overtaking Germany. Currently, MSMEs provide jobs to around 28 crore people across the country, making them central to India’s growth.
The convention was also attended by Haryana BJP president Mohanlal Kaushik, MLAs Manmohan Bhadana and Pramod Vij, former MP Sanjay Bhatia, office-bearers of Laghu Udyog Bharati, and a large number of entrepreneurs and industrial representatives.
