Kochi: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Thursday said the government will take specific steps to promote industries in the micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSME) including relaxing procedures for them to do business.

“We shall invite suggestions from entrepreneurs for this,” the chief minister said, inaugurating three-day business-to- business meet organised by the industries department.

The government has taken several steps to promote the sector, which included a direction to the government departments to earmark one per cent of their budget allocation for the promotion of enterprises in their respective sectors. “These steps have helped the sector grow 12 per cent a year, which is the highest among Indian states,” he said.

Industries Minister P K Kunjalikkutty said the MSME sector is more suited for Kerala as it is more inclusive and creates more jobs for the money invested when compared with all other sectors.

The minister said the B2B meet will be made an annual affair from next year. Excise and Ports Minister K Babu, Ficci vice president Pankaj R Patel, Ficci Kerala state president M G George Muthoot spoke.

The vibrancy of the MSME was on display at the -business meet. The flourish of the food processing industry was evident from the fact that more than one third of the 150-odd companies which showcased their products at the meet were from it.

The furniture industry, which is seeing fast-paced developments in the state, was also adequately represented at the meet in strength. Units in the Ayurveda, light engineering, handicrafts and handloom sectors, which have been doing well traditionally well, were also present at the meet, hoping to clinch business deals with the more than 450 buyers who have descended on the city from other States and even from abroad for the three-day meet. The buyers and sellers will engage in business negotiations for next two days.