Bhubaneswar, March 6 -- The funds for the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) department will be substantially increased by the state government in the next state budget, said Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

While inaugurating the MSME Trade fair 2021 through video conferencing, the Chief Minister said: "In the next financial year, the budget of MSME Department is being substantially increased. My government will always go the extra mile to help and encourage the MSMEs to encourage them to participate and contribute in building a vibrant and globally competitive new resurgent Odisha."

He said that the MSME sector particularly has been affected due to COVID-19 and it will take a long time to recover fully adding, ''The gover...