A press conference was held at Senden Riju, Purana Bazar, Dimapur on 28th March to announce the upcoming Entrepreneur Awareness Camp and Special Vendor Development Programme to be organised by the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India, in collaboration with the State Government and the Business Association of Nagas (BAN).
Addressing the media, Mercy Epao and Rajesh Madan highlighted the objectives, key features and expected outcomes of the programme.
They informed that the main programme would be held on March 30, 2026 from 9:30 AM onwards at Senden Riju, Dimapur. The initiative aims to create awareness about various Government of India schemes, particularly the National SC-ST Hub (NSSH), and to bridge the gap between demand and supply capabilities of SC/ST enterprises.
Epao stated that Nagaland has a growing MSME ecosystem with thousands of enterprises across both formal and informal sectors. She noted that the programme would help entrepreneurs understand government schemes, formalise their businesses, and access wider economic opportunities. She further informed that the initiative aims to develop around 500 vendors within the next one year.
Highlighting the importance of registration, she emphasised that MSME registration through the Udyam portal is fully digital and free of cost, enabling enterprises to avail benefits such as financial assistance, subsidies and incentives offered by various ministries.
The programme will include both inaugural and technical sessions, with participation from key stakeholders including Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs), financial institutions, Government e-Marketplace (GeM), TRIFED, and NSTFDC, along with government officials and training institutes.
Officials also highlighted schemes such as the Special Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (SCLCSS), which provides subsidy support to SC/ST entrepreneurs for procurement of plant and machinery. They noted that such initiatives have significantly boosted procurement from SC/ST enterprises by various Union Ministries and CPSEs.
Emphasising the broader vision, Epao said that the MSME sector contributes nearly 30 percent to India’s GDP and about 45 percent of exports, playing a crucial role in achieving the national goal of Viksit Bharat 2047. She encouraged youth and entrepreneurs to actively participate in capacity-building programmes and utilise available platforms for growth.
The organisers expressed hope that the programme would strengthen entrepreneurship, enhance market linkages and create new avenues for employment generation in the region.
The press conference was attended by Benchungso Kikon, Vice President, BAN; A. M. Jamir, President, BAN; Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary, Ministry of MSME, Government of India; Rajesh Madan, General Manager, NSIC; and Akum Jamir, Executive Member, BAN.
(I.Tiakumla.Ao, IA Dimapur)
