Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India, through the MSME Development and Facilitation Office (MSME-DFO), Dimapur, in collaboration with the Department of Industries & Commerce and the District Industries Centre (DIC), Kiphire, organised a one-day Awareness Workshop on Branding and Marketing under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme at Hopongkyu Memorial Hall, Kiphire, on August 11.
The workshop was aimed at strengthening the entrepreneurial capabilities of PM Vishwakarma artisans by equipping them with practical knowledge and skills to expand and sustain their businesses. The programme featured a series of technical sessions covering Product Packaging, Labelling and Design, Export Development, Artificial Intelligence, Financial Literacy, and Business Growth Strategies. More than 140 artisans from across the district participated in the event.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by Khrieketuolie Sekhose, Functional Manager, DIC Kiphire, who briefed participants on the objectives and benefits of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme. He encouraged artisans to actively engage in the sessions and make use of the knowledge and opportunities available through the initiative.
The first technical session on Product Packaging, Labelling and Design was delivered by Tsachola Sangtam, Founder of Hill Craft Soaps under Green Enterprises. She emphasized the significance of developing a strong product identity, adopting effective marketing techniques, and implementing cost-efficient branding strategies tailored to different stages of enterprise development.
A session on Export Development was subsequently conducted by Nongshe, Functional Manager, DIC Kiphire. He introduced participants about the fundamentals of export readiness, including key requirements for accessing external markets. He also highlighted various government support schemes available to MSMEs and artisans, while encouraging participants to seek guidance and assistance from the District Industries Centre.
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Representatives from SBI Kiphire also interacted with the artisans and addressed queries relating to loan application and financial assistance.
The financial literacy session was led by Ariba Sangtam, Project Associate, RAMP Scheme, DIC Kiphire, who spoke on integrated business growth planning and the importance of networking for enterprise expansion. He discussed strategies for building sustainable businesses and scaling operations effectively. The session was followed by demonstrations on QR code generation and e-commerce onboarding to help artisans leverage digital platforms for market access.
An interactive session on Artificial Intelligence was conducted by the State Programme Management Unit (SPMU), PM Vishwakarma. The session introduced artisans to emerging digital technologies and explored their potential applications in product promotion, marketing, customer engagement, and overall enterprise development.
The programme also featured an interactive question-and-answer session involving artisans, government officials, and representatives of the SPMU, PM Vishwakarma, providing participants with an opportunity to clarify their queries regarding the scheme and its benefits.
The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks by Nikhilendra, IEDS, Assistant Director, MSME-DFO Dimapur, who reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting artisans through capacity-building initiatives and fostering an inclusive ecosystem that enables artisans in Nagaland to successfully transition into sustainable enterprises.
