Raj Kumar Middya, the state joint Director of MSME (P&S), expressed concern about delayed payments to MSME units, leading to their closure. He urged the industry to ensure timely payments to support MSMEs. There is an MSME facilitation council chaired by the Director of MSME, where suppliers facing payment delays of more than 45 days can seek assistance through the state government's Samadhan portal or by approaching the Council. They will facilitate conciliation to resolve outstanding payments swiftly. This support may not be widely known, so eligible suppliers are encouraged to take advantage of it. Middya addressed the Manufacturing and MSME Conclave 2023 hosted by ASSOCHAM Eastern Region, highlighting the importance of innovation in the progress of the MSME sector in Bengal, which comprises 89 lakh units, with 48% in manufacturing and 24% in trading. Perminder Jeet Kaur, Senior Director at ASSOCHAM, emphasized the role of innovation in driving advancement.