High-level meeting in Kohima focuses on MSMEs as engines of growth, boosting coordination and development in Nagaland.
Share
DIMAPUR — A high-level coordination meeting on ‘MSMEs as engines of growth’ was held at the chief secretary’s conference hall, Civil Secretariat, Kohima, on Monday.
The meeting brought together officials from the Government of India and various agriculture and allied departments of Nagaland to strengthen collaboration and enhance the impact of development initiatives in the state, a DIPR report stated.
The meeting was chaired by Additional Chief Secretary and Agriculture Production Commissioner V Shashank Shekhar, who stated that the primary objective was to bring all concerned departments onto a common platform.
He emphasised the need to improve synergy between the Centre and the state to maximise benefits for the people. Stressing convergence and collective efforts, he noted that coordinated action among departments would be crucial for the effective implementation of developmental programmes and for achieving desired outcomes.
Secretary of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), SCL Das, highlighted the importance of stronger coordination, convergence and collaboration among departments to accelerate MSME growth in Nagaland.
Also read: Centre rolls out MSME push in Nagaland with Dimapur awareness camp
In his opening remarks, he clarified that the meeting was not intended as a review exercise but rather as a platform for dialogue and partnership. The aim, he said, was to align the Centre’s support with the state’s development priorities.
He pointed out that MSMEs are not confined to a single department but represent a classification that spans multiple sectors, including textiles, food processing, steel, electronics and other industries.
He also stressed the need to break departmental silos and promote convergence, noting that multiple ministries and departments at both the Centre and state levels run schemes that support MSMEs.
Greater convergence, he said, is essential to maximise impact and ensure that benefits reach the intended stakeholders effectively.
Das informed that the meeting would provide an overview of schemes under the MSME Ministry while acknowledging that several other central initiatives also contribute to MSME development. He expressed hope that the state government would be able to leverage these schemes more effectively.
Joint Secretary of the Ministry of MSME, Mercy Epao, delivered a detailed presentation outlining the ministry’s vision of fostering sustainable and globally competitive MSMEs as key drivers of India’s economic growth.
She said the ministry aims to promote the growth and development of MSMEs, including khadi, village and coir industries, with a focus on enterprise creation, employment generation and strengthening the manufacturing base.
Epao identified key enablers for MSME growth, including formalisation and inclusion, improved access to credit and finance, adoption of technology, promotion of digitisation, infrastructural support and industry-relevant skill development. She also elaborated on various flagship schemes under the ministry.
Focusing on women entrepreneurship, she highlighted the Yashasvini initiative, which aims to empower women-led enterprises.
The initiative seeks to achieve the mandated 3% public procurement from women-owned micro and small enterprises, promote gender parity in formalisation and support women entrepreneurs at every stage, from informal to formal enterprises.
It also aims to enhance the contribution of women-led enterprises to GDP, exports and employment through partnerships with key stakeholders.
Outlining the roadmap under Viksit Bharat 2047, the MSME official said the vision is to build a modern, vibrant and globally competitive MSME sector at the core of India’s development.
Strategic goals include enhancing MSME participation in services and exports, promoting modern and sustainable technologies, expanding digitalisation and skilling initiatives, and strengthening rural industries such as khadi and coir through policy reforms and improved market access.
The presentation also underscored the importance of empowering women, traditional artisans and craftspeople by facilitating enterprise creation and ensuring inclusive growth across sectors.
During the meeting, various state departments presented updates on their ongoing activities. They highlighted key challenges, particularly in marketing and exports, and outlined the support required to scale up their products and expand market reach.
Among those present were the Development Commissioner and representatives from departments including Industries and Commerce, Tourism, Horticulture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Finance, IT and Communication, Land Resources, Women Development, Forest, Nagaland Bamboo Mission, Employment and Skill Development, Youth Resources and Sports, Sericulture and Agriculture.