Advisor for Industries and Commerce, Hekani Jakhalu, asserted that industrial development in Nagaland, while still in its early stages, has shown promising growth. She said this while speaking at the MSME Promotion Council of India Orientation & Interaction Programme on MSMEs as the Chief Guest on Monday at de Oriental Hotel, Kohima.
Reflecting on the data, Jakhalu said the sectoral growth rate of the secondary in the state has surged from 2.83 percent in 2012-13 to 12.8 percent in 2022-23.
This remarkable progress highlights our potential for further development, she said, adding that, it’s crucial to acknowledge that this journey has not been without its challenges.
Speaking on the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) programme, she said, “this presents a significant opportunity for the MSMEs and aspiring entrepreneurs as this initiative is designed with several objectives that align perfectly with the needs of our people.”
Jakhalu said, with the RAMP programme the government aims to achieve several transformative outcomes such as, Formalizing MSMEs in the state, Enhancing the capacity of 18,000 MSMEs, Promoting ‘Make in Nagaland Products’, Facilitating interactions between entrepreneurs and technical experts, Enhancing competitiveness through green initiatives, Facilitating credit linkage and interest subvention support and Access to market through various programs and workshop.
She exuded hope stating, “by embracing the RAMP programme and these objectives, we can catalyze transformation that will benefit not just individual businesses but the entire population of Nagaland.”
Addressing the gathering as Special Guest, Pradeep Mishra Sarkar, National Chairman MSME PCI, said that for the development of Nagaland, MSME PCI will introduced two significant initiatives – the Retail Trading Guarantee Scheme, RTGS and the Kisan Trading Guarantee Scheme, KTGS in the month of September-October this year. These programs are designed to provide financial assistance to disadvantaged traders and farmers who have struggled to double their income.
Speaking on the scope and avenues in Nagaland, Sarkar said, the various schemes of the state and central government already implemented in the state, the MSME PCI together with State and central government will work shoulder to shoulder in creating more awareness programme of these schemes and resolve to reach out to every section of the people to create employment.
To develop the business of the local traders and increase its income, Retail Trading Guarantee Scheme was initiated, he said, adding that the Central and State governments have tied up with banking sector and department to generate employment to the local.
“MSME PCI assures that in next December, it will work toward creating employment to 10,000 people from Nagaland and as part of its 100-day program, we will be able to generate employment for approximately 25,000 people across Nagaland within the next year,” he added.
To take the government at the grassroot level, banking sector is a backbone or a bridge in getting the Government scheme to the people. To this, Sarkar said, Nagaland is fortunate to have a chairperson from the banking sector.
He asserted that in order to make a developed Nagaland, MSME PCI will give special attention to the state.
Further, the National Chairman MSME PCI said, “to make Vikshit Nagaland and India, the contribution of people of Nagaland is very important.”
