Kerala Honored by ASPA for Public Administration Innovation
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Synopsis
On April 1, 2023, Kerala was awarded by the American Society of Public Administration for its innovative Year of Enterprises project. Minister P. Rajeeve highlighted the initiative's success and its impact on the MSME sector, emphasizing the state's commitment to sustainable economic growth.
Key Takeaways
- Kerala won the ASPA award for public administration innovation.
- Year of Enterprises project greatly enhanced the MSME sector.
- Over 350,000 MSMEs were created from 2022-2025.
- Kerala aims for a trillion-dollar economy focused on ESG principles.
- Significant increase in loans to MSMEs since YOE launch.
Thiruvananthapuram, April 1 (NationPress) Kerala has been honored with an award from the American Society of Public Administration (ASPA) for Innovation in Public Administration due to the effective execution of the Year of Enterprises (YOE) initiative, announced the Minister for Industries, Law and Coir, P. Rajeeve.
Suman Billa, who was recently the Principal Secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce for the Government of Kerala, accepted the award on behalf of the Kerala government during a ceremony held in Washington DC. Billa currently serves as the Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in New Delhi.
ASPA is a professional association comprising nearly 10,000 experts in the United States, promoting conferences and offering services primarily in government policy, public administration, and civil society programs.
The Year of Enterprises initiative, launched by the Kerala Government in 2022-23, aims to create a supportive environment for the MSME sector, significantly transforming the state into a favorable industrial and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The Minister presented an online session at the annual ASPA conference titled ‘Developing Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Policy and Successful Implementation: A Case Study of Year of Enterprises’.
Although he could not attend the event in person due to technical reasons, the Minister expressed gratitude to ASPA for allowing him to share Kerala’s innovative strategies, particularly the remarkable success of the YOE project. The project has surpassed its initial goal of establishing over 100,000 units in the MSME sector within a year and generating more than 300,000 jobs.
“Kerala has crafted a model of sustainable growth by implementing effective strategies and ensuring the collaboration of various stakeholders, including the MSME ecosystem, government departments, research and development entities, academic institutions, trade unions, and financial organizations,” Rajeeve stated.
“Our economic vision is founded on the principles of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Excellence. We aim to evolve our state into a trillion-dollar economy, emphasizing nature, people, and industry. Our objective is to provide quality infrastructure, improve living standards, and foster economic prosperity for everyone,” he added.
In 2019, Kerala was positioned 28th in the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) rankings. The legislative and administrative reforms implemented by the government since 2016 have bolstered confidence among industries and the populace, leading to the state achieving the top rank in EODB in India, as noted by Rajeeve.
These initiatives have yielded results beyond expectations, resulting in the establishment of over 350,000 MSMEs between 2022-25.
Data from the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) indicates a substantial rise in loans granted to MSMEs since the YOE launch.
