Manipur Leads in MSME Business Registrations in Northeast, Asserts CM Singh
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Synopsis
On January 16, Manipur's Chief Minister N. Biren Singh announced that the state has the highest registration of MSME businesses in the northeast, with 12,438 enterprises. He emphasized initiatives supporting women entrepreneurs and government programs aimed at boosting local economies.
Key Takeaways
- Manipur has 12,438 MSME registrations, leading in the northeast.
- 50% of MSMEs are women-owned.
- Government initiatives support self-reliance.
- Many entrepreneurs benefited from state credit schemes.
- Focus on agriculture and machinery for essential imports.
Imphal, Jan 16 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Manipur, N. Biren Singh, announced on Thursday that his state has emerged as the leader in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) business registrations in the northeastern region.
According to a report from the Ministry of MSME, Manipur boasts a total of 12,438 MSME ventures, marking it as the highest in the northeast between 2015 to 2019.
During a state-level workshop focused on UNNATI (Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization Scheme) and RAMP (Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance), he highlighted that 50 percent of these MSME enterprises are owned by women.
Singh pointed out that while Manipur constitutes 0.2 percent of the national population, its share in MSME businesses stands at 0.3 percent.
This workshop was conducted by the Department of Trade, Commerce and Industries of the state government.
The Chief Minister remarked that under the insightful leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the northeast is poised to evolve into the 'Growth Engine of New India'.
Emphasizing the entrepreneurial spirit of the Manipuri people, Singh stated that the BJP-led state government has initiated numerous development projects since its establishment in 2017.
He mentioned the launch of the 'One Family One Livelihood' initiative aimed at providing financial assistance to families, facilitating their journey towards establishing self-sufficient enterprises.
Under this program, a maximum loan of Rs 10 lakh is available, which is collateral-free and includes a 30 percent grant, he noted.
Moreover, he encouraged the youth to take advantage of government schemes that foster employment opportunities. The Chief Minister stated that approximately 2,575 entrepreneurs have benefitted from the Manipur State Credit Guarantee Scheme.
Out of an allocated budget of around Rs 700 crore, about Rs 200 crore has been utilized, leaving Rs 500 crore still available, Singh elaborated.
He also reported that seven successful start-ups in Manipur have created job opportunities for around 300 violence-affected displaced individuals, showcasing their enterprise success.
Singh further recognized that small businesses often struggle due to a lack of technical support and awareness.
In an effort to revitalize the local economy, the Chief Minister announced the establishment of a dedicated cell within the planning department, specifically for the agriculture and horticulture sectors, which has acquired seasonal crop seeds valued at around Rs 6 crore.
He added that Manipur spends substantial amounts on importing essential goods such as eggs and fish. The state requires approximately 2 lakh eggs daily, costing over Rs 10 lakhs. To address this, the government has reached out to the North Eastern Council (NEC) for machinery procurement.
