Mangaluru : Dinakar Babu, president of Udupi Zilla Panchayat, said on Wednesday that it was necessary to promote industrial development in Udupi district.

He was speaking after inaugurating the National Vendor Development Programme-cum-Industrial Exhibition organised by the Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, the Department of Industries and Commerce, the District Small Industries Association and the Udupi Chamber of Commerce and Industries, here.

Mr. Babu said that the setting up of small and medium industries would help in generating employment for the youth.

Already, the district was known for providing quality education. The youth who came from the educational institutions of the district should get employment, he said.

Meenakshi Bannanje, president of the Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC), said that the Union government’s demonetisation had hit micro and small industries.

The operation of these industries was smaller when compared to large and medium industries. Liquidity was needed for the small and micro enterprises to function, she said.

H.R. Sharma, Deputy Director-General, Directorate of Supplies and Disposal, said that the directorate started the government eMarketplace, https://gem.gov.in, last year.

This portal helped government officers and departments in purchasing goods and services. Hence, the vendors could make use of it, he said.

K. Socrates, Deputy Director, MSME-Development Institute, welcomed the gathering. S.N. Rangaprasad, Director, MSME Development Institute, presided over the function.

H. Sudheer Nayak, president of the District Small Industries Association, Srikrishna Rao Kodancha, president of the Udupi District Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Ramananda Nayak, Joint Director, District Industries Centre, were present. Entrepreneurs and heads of small, medium and large industries also participated in the programme.

As many as 70 stalls, including those of South Western Railway, Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd., Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), were put up at the exhibition.