A high-level coordination meeting on “MSME as Engines of Growth” was held at the Chief Secretary’s Conference Hall, Nagaland Civil Secretariat, Kohima, on 30th March 2026, bringing together officials from the Government of India and various agri. and allied departments of the State.
The meeting was chaired by Additional Chief Secretary and Agriculture Production Commissioner, V. Shashank Shekhar (IAS), who said the objective was to bring all concerned departments onto a common platform to enhance synergy between the Centre and the State for maximising benefits to the people. He stressed the importance of convergence and collective efforts for effective implementation of developmental programmes.
Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India, S.C.L. Das (IAS), emphasised the need for stronger coordination, convergence and collaboration among various departments to accelerate MSME growth in Nagaland.
In his opening remarks, Das clarified that the meeting was not a review exercise but a platform for dialogue and partnership, aimed at aligning the Centre’s support with the State’s development vision. He noted that Nagaland’s progress as part of India’s broader growth story is fully supported by the Government of India.
Highlighting the nature of MSMEs, he said the sector is not confined to a single department but is a classification that cuts across multiple sectors such as textiles, food processing, steel, electronics and other industries. He pointed out that MSMEs contribute significantly across sectors, including a substantial share in steel production, underscoring their importance in the national economy.
Das stressed the need to break departmental silos and work through convergence, as multiple ministries and departments at both the Centre and State levels run schemes that benefit MSMEs. “Greater convergence is essential to maximise impact and ensure that the benefits reach the intended stakeholders,” he said.
He further informed that the meeting would provide a brief overview of schemes available under the MSME Ministry, while also acknowledging that several other central initiatives, including those under different ministries, support MSME development. He expressed hope that the State government would be able to leverage these schemes more effectively for greater benefit.
Emphasising a collaborative approach, Das said the interaction would also focus on understanding the State’s needs and identifying areas where coordination and cooperation can be strengthened to achieve shared objectives.
Describing the meeting as an “initiation”, he expressed optimism that such engagements would continue through regular and institutionalised follow up meetings.
He also thanked the State government for hosting the delegation and facilitating meaningful discussions, noting that the interaction had been a valuable learning experience for both sides.
Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India, delivered a comprehensive presentation outlining the Ministry’s vision of fostering sustainable development of globally competitive MSMEs as a key driver of India’s economic growth.
She stated that the Ministry’s mission is to promote the growth and development of MSMEs, including Khadi, Village and Coir industries, with a focus on creating new enterprises and generating employment opportunities while strengthening the country’s manufacturing base.
Highlighting key enablers for MSME growth, Epao emphasised the importance of formalisation and inclusion, improved access to credit and finance, adoption of technology, promotion of digitisation, infrastructural support, and industry-relevant skilling.
She also elaborated on various flagship schemes under the Ministry, including PM Vishwakarma, Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises, Self Reliant India (SRI) Fund, Micro and Small Enterprises Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP), Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), National SC-ST Hub Scheme (NSSH), International Cooperation Scheme (IC), and Assistance to Training Institutions (ATI).
Focusing on women entrepreneurship, Epao highlighted the Yashasvini initiative, which aims to empower women led enterprises. The initiative envisions achieving the mandated 3% public procurement from women owned MSEs, promoting gender parity in formalisation, and supporting women entrepreneurs at every stage from informal to formal enterprises. It also seeks to enhance the contribution of women-led enterprises to GDP, exports, and employment generation through partnerships with key stakeholders.
Outlining the roadmap under Viksit Bharat 2047, Epao said the vision is to build a modern, vibrant, and globally competitive MSME sector at the core of India’s development. She further detailed strategic goals such as enhancing MSME participation in services and exports, promoting modern and sustainable technologies, expanding digitalisation and skilling initiatives, and strengthening rural industries including Khadi and Coir through policy reforms and improved market access.
The presentation also underscored the need to empower women, traditional artisans, and crafts people by enabling enterprise creation and ensuring inclusive growth across sectors.
Various departments presented updates on their ongoing activities while also highlighting key challenges in marketing and exports. They further outlined the support required to scale up and expand their products.
Secretary in his concluding remarked assured that the grievances raised would be addressed, noting that such meeting provides opportunity to identify areas for collaboration and collective progress. Emphasizing the importance of coordination, the Secretary called for regular meetings to ensure effective implementation. Decisions that are immediately actionable will be carried out without delay, while identified bottlenecks will be resolved promptly, he added. Secretary also underscored the need for follow-up meetings to review progress and sustain momentum moving forward.
Development Commissioner, Departments including Industries & commerce, Tourism, Horticulture, Fisheries, RD, Finance, IT & C, Land Resources, Women Development, Forest, Nagaland Bamboo Mission, Employment & Skill Development, Youth Resource & Sports, Seri culture, Agri department attended the meeting.
(Esuihangle IA)
