Bengaluru: On May 17, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will officially open the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (KASSIA) at the Gnana Jyothi Auditorium in Bengaluru.
During a press conference on Tuesday, KASSIA President M G Rajagopal announced that the Chief Minister will also introduce the platinum jubilee logo and unveil various e-initiatives, such as a B2B portal, Udyog portal, and an e-commerce platform.
The event is expected to attract key stakeholders, including prominent MSME units, industry leaders, policymakers, and heads of various departments from both central and state governments, Rajagopal noted.
Dignitaries anticipated to attend include Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Karnataka’s Minister for Small Scale Industries Sharanabasappa Darshanapur, T Raghu Murthy, MLA of Challakere constituency and Chairman of the Karnataka State Small Industries Development Board, and Govindarajanagar MLA Priya Krishna.
Founded in 1949 by freedom fighter R S Aradhya, KASSIA has been instrumental in advocating for the interests of MSMEs in Karnataka for over seventy years, according to Rajagopal. The MSME sector in the state contributes 2.2 percent to the national GDP, demonstrating consistent growth in exports and significant job creation, thereby making a notable impact on innovation and industrial development, he added.
Currently, KASSIA boasts more than 13,000 direct members and 132 affiliated associations, primarily focused on the manufacturing sector.
