This was indicated by Sidbi managing director Shailendra Narain during his day-long interaction with small- and medium-scale entrepreneurs (SMEs) held under the aegis of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Gujarat, here recently. Consultancy firm Partha Ghosh & Associates is expected to submit its report redefining Sidbi's role in both organisational and schematic areas by November, he said.

He said Sidbi would go ahead with its restructuring plan as part of a move to delink Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) from Sidbi, even if the related bill could not be passed by Parliament in the coming winter session.

Narain also announcedcreation of Venture Capital Funds dedicated to infotech and software, at least in nine states shortly with a corpus fund of Rs 20 crore each, with Sidbi sharing 50 per cent of the fund. He said the plan has already been finalised in seven states, as two more states may join in soon.

He called upon entrepreneurs to reap benefits of Sidbi observing 1998-99 as ``techno-mission year'' with a special focus on its existing technological development and modernisation fund (TDMF). The mission is to encourage the import and export of technology transfer and setting up joint ventures in India and abroad. Negotiations are on with several African countries. While Rs 200 crore has been earmarked for the mission, he said, the amount could be increased to Rs 300 crore, if necessary.

He said Sidbi was also encouraging infrastructure development by SSIs. Over Rs 900 crore has been advanced to SSIs in the last two years.

SSIs are encouraged to get a general credit rating for their products from any of three domesticagencies -- Crisil, Icra and Care. He said that rating by London-based Dun & Brad Street was like a ``gold card'' for export-oriented units.