<span style="color: #222222;">Union Minister for MSME Nitin Gadkari today said that Government is working on a separate scheme to address delayed payments issues of MSMEs wherein a dedicated fund will be created for payments to MSMEs. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">While commenting on delayed payments to MSMEs, Mr Gadkari said that all efforts should be made to make payments immediately and all Government Departments have been given such directions.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He was speaking while interacting through video conferencing with the representatives of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of India, ASSOCHAM on impact of COVID-19 on MSMEs.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Minister said, while the government has allowed certain industry sectors to start functioning, it is also needed to be ensured by industries that necessary preventive measures are taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr Gadkari recalled that Government of Japan has offered special package to its industries for taking out Japanese investments from China and move elsewhere. He opined that it is an opportunity for India and which should be grabbed.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He mentioned that work on Green Express Highway has already started, and this is an opportunity for industry to make future investments in industrial clusters, industrial parks, logistics parks. He opined that there is a need to expand the horizon of industrial cluster in areas other than metro cities and urged that such proposals be submitted to Government.</span><br />''