New Delhi, Sep 2 (Agency) Union minister of state for Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises ( MSME) Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma on Friday said that small states like Manipur have better prospects of progressing if it concentrates on medium scale industries. He was speaking during the inauguration of a national SC-ST Hub (NSSH) mega conclave at Churachandpur district. MSME will also help in employment generation and providing jobs to the people, he added. Even though there are no big industries in Manipur the smaller industries perform at par with the big industries in other states, he said.
He said that the MSME ministry contribution to the GDP of the country is 30 percent and the ministry is targeting to enhance it to 50 percent. To develop MSMEs, the government has introduced various schemes focusing on infrastructure development, credit and financial assistance, technology up-gradation, skill development along with inclusion of a large number of business units and exporters . Cluster groups should take the benefits of the various programmes taken up by his ministry to strengthen Small and Medium enterprises in the state and the ministry will extend its support to those organizations interested in forming such cluster groups to promote medium and small enterprises, he added. Manipur textile, commerce and industries minister Nemcha Kipgen said the state government is ready to provide all possible assistance to help those working in MSME to avail the schemes. The NSSH which organized the event is offering various industry specific training, business orientation programmes, knowledge sessions on E-tendering, GeM, etc. to develop technical and business skills of SC-ST MSEs in close partnership with industry and academia. Some of the courses being offered by the Hub include digital marketing, CNC operator, mobile repairing, security alarm and smoke detector, refrigeration and air-conditioning, tool design, web designing, etc.
The Hub has provided capacity building training in various sectors to 31,350 SC/ST candidates through 45 different training institutions at 162 locations in 26 states and UTs across the country, said joint secretary Mercy of Union ministry of MSME. Presentation of successful stories of SC-ST entrepreneurs and highlighting and creating awareness on various Central and state government sponsored schemes for the SC-STs by resource persons and officials of the concerned departments were the highlights of the conclave. Bhanu Pratap Singh earlier on Thursday had interacted with members of All Manipur Entrepreneurs Association, Manipur Industrial Department Council and other stakeholders of Manipur at Imphal. Beneficiaries of the Prime Minister Employment Guarantee Programme (PMEGP) and representatives from all Manipur Entrepreneurs Association shared their problems, ideas and suggestions, regarding loans and other difficulties . Bhanu Pratap assured that he will look into the matter and try to execute and deliver for the benefit of the all beneficiaries and entrepreneurs of the State. He also said that the Ministry is trying to help the beneficiaries through a variety of schemes under the Ministry of MSME.