The government of India plans to launch a toll-free helpline for small and medium businesses, which would offer assistance on issues like taxation, finance, laws, marketing and other relevant topics. This was communicated by Dinesh Rai, Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Government of India, at a conference on Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), organised by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and IndiaMART.com, India's largest online B2B marketplace here on July 10. Reiterating the government's commitment to SMEs, Rai said, 'The toll-free helpline is part of our resolve to assist SMEs in day-to-day operations, finance, marketing, legal, banking and taxation domains.' Rai also underlined a plan to run a National Skill and Development Centre (NSDC) to create a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem in India. The conference was attended by 500 well known entrepreneurs and professionals from various industries. Distinguised personalities like Dinesh Agarwal, Founder and CEO of IndiaMART.com, Dinesh Rai, Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Government of India, Rajiv Sodhi, Director, Emerging Geographies, Microsoft India, Gurmukh Singh, Head Business Marketing, Intel South Asia, Harish Bahl, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Smile Interactive Technologies Group, were among those present. Rajiv Sodhi, Director, Emerging Geographies, Microsoft India, educated the audience on the power of ICT for innovation and acceleration of business in time of recession. Speaking on the much-publicized 'Project Vikas', Sodhi reiterated Microsoft's commitment to help SMEs, by offering tailor made software solutions to aid in operations, maximizing revenues and creating relationships with customers and partners.
