Bengaluru, Mar 12: The Karnataka government is working on a new Karnataka MSME policy that may incorporate guidelines on artificial intelligence and digital transformation to help small businesses remain competitive in evolving industrial environments.
The proposal was highlighted by Rohini Sindhuri, Secretary of the Department of MSME, Sugar and Textiles, while inaugurating a state level stakeholder consultation workshop in Bengaluru aimed at gathering industry inputs for the policy’s formulation.
Sindhuri noted that enterprises under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises category make up nearly 97 percent of Karnataka’s industrial units and contribute significantly to employment generation across the state. Recognising their role in the economy, the government has begun drafting a dedicated policy to modernise and strengthen the sector.
She said the consultation exercise will continue with regional level discussions across districts in the coming weeks to ensure broader participation from industry representatives and entrepreneurs.
According to officials, the proposed policy will place innovation and technology adoption at its centre. The government is exploring frameworks that would encourage MSMEs to adopt digital tools and artificial intelligence to improve productivity, enhance competitiveness and prepare businesses for global market demands.
The initiative aims to build a more resilient and future-ready industrial ecosystem while encouraging stakeholders and business associations to share recommendations that can help shape the final policy framework.