Chandigarh, Aug 10 (PTI) Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday launched the Haryana Progressive MSME and Export Promotion Policy 2026 to attract over Rs 55,000 crore in manufacturing investment, create over five lakh new jobs and double the state's exports by 2031.

Speaking on the occasion in Karnal, Saini said the new policy has been prepared with 'Make in India' and 'Make in Haryana' at its core.

Vidhan Sabha Speaker Harvinder Kalyan and Industry and Commerce Minister Rao Narbir Singh, among others, attended the event.

The government's objective was to promote micro, small and medium enterprises in the state and create new opportunities for investment and employment, he said.

Saini said Haryana has established itself among the country's leading manufacturing economies on the strength of entrepreneurship, and the state government is continuously working to take the state towards the next phase of industrial development.

Saini stated that the government has also accorded priority to environmental protection under the policy. Through the Green Investment Fund, environment-friendly investments and green technologies will be encouraged.

According to an official statement, Saini has placed the state's 15 lakh MSMEs at the centre of its next phase of economic growth, with a new five-year roadmap aimed at helping enterprises scale up, modernise and compete in domestic and global markets.

"The Haryana Progressive MSME & Export Promotion Policy 2026 brings together 60 transformative initiatives covering finance, industrial infrastructure, technology, innovation, exports, sustainability and skills, with targets of attracting more than Rs 55,000 crore in manufacturing investment, creating over five lakh new jobs and doubling Haryana's exports by 2031," it said.

A key institutional reform under the new policy is the establishment of a dedicated MSME Directorate, aimed at providing focused institutional support to Haryana's vast MSME base and strengthening the ecosystem for enterprise growth.

The move complements the government's broader strategy of facilitating investment, technology adoption, access to finance, infrastructure and markets for MSMEs across the state.

Under the Haryana Udyam Vikas Mission, MSMEs in identified thrust sectors will receive support through capital investment subsidy, interest subsidy, stamp duty reimbursement, employment-generation assistance, insurance support and incentives for testing, automation, artificial intelligence and research and development.

A State Venture Capital Fund and a Sectoral Credit Guarantee Fund have also been proposed to improve access to institutional finance and promote collateral-free lending.

The growth push will be backed by stronger industrial infrastructure and a simpler business environment. The policy provides for larger Cluster Plug & Play Industrial Estates and Common Facility Centres while strengthening the single window system and introducing an MSME Right to Business Framework to reduce the time, cost and complexity of doing business.

To make Haryana's enterprises future-ready, the government will promote automation, Industry 4.0, AI, advanced manufacturing, quality certification and R&D, supported by new Centres of Excellence, stronger industry-academia partnerships and convergence with the central government's Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance Programme.

A major focus is on taking Haryana's MSMEs from local markets to global value chains. The policy provides support for international quality certifications, export credit and insurance, freight assistance, e-commerce registration and participation in international trade fairs.

The Mukhya Mantri Pratham Niryatak Protsahan Yojana will encourage first-time exporters by supporting the cost of securing their first international buyer.

The Haryana Niryat Centre will serve as a one-stop platform for export documentation, compliance, logistics, market intelligence and buyer connect, while Udaan Dwaar will facilitate export matchmaking, technology partnerships, international joint ventures and investor engagement.

Saini also launched Haryana Udyog Saathi, an AI-powered multilingual policy assistant that enables entrepreneurs to access information on incentives, eligibility, documentation and application procedures through voice or text.

The policy also puts green and inclusive industrial growth at the centre of Haryana's next phase of development. It promotes cleaner production, renewable energy, resource efficiency and circular economy practices, while supporting Effluent Treatment Plants and Zero Liquid Discharge systems and proposing a dedicated Green Investment Fund.

Special initiatives will promote entrepreneurship among women, scheduled castes, physically challenged persons, transgender entrepreneurs, ex-servicemen, Agniveers and first-generation entrepreneurs, alongside measures for skill development, employment generation and balanced regional industrial growth.

Saini said the Haryana Progressive MSME and Export Promotion Policy-2026 is an important step towards giving a new direction to the MSME sector in the state. PTI SUN BAL BAL