Sri Vijaya Puram, Jan. 6: The Hon’ble Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Shri Jitan Ram Manjhi, is presently on an official visit to the A&N Islands. Marking his arrival, a review and awareness programme was organized today under the chairmanship of the Hon’ble Minister to review and assess the progress, outreach, and impact of MSME initiatives in the Union Territory. The programme commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, symbolizing the formal inauguration of the event. The programme was attended by senior officers from the Ministry of MSME, officials of the A&N Administration, representatives from various line departments, financial institutions, and MSME stakeholders from across the Islands.
Addressing the gathering, the Hon’ble Minister shared his visionary thoughts aligned with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of “Viksit Bharat @ 2047”, underscoring the pivotal role of MSMEs as a key engine of economic growth, innovation, and employment generation in achieving the goal of a developed India. The Hon’ble Minister actively interacted with officials and stakeholders and enquired about the progress, challenges, and emerging opportunities for MSME development in the Islands. He emphasized the need to strengthen entrepreneurship, improve access to credit, enhance skill development, and ensure effective and timely implementation of MSME schemes to promote sustainable economic growth and employment generation in the region.
The day assumed special significance with the A&N Administration considering M/s KPMG for engagement as the State Programme Implementation Unit (SPIU) for implementation of the Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) Scheme of the Ministry of MSME, Government of India. On the occasion, the Hon’ble Minister handed over the Letter of Consideration to the representative of M/s KPMG, marking an important milestone in strengthening MSME programme implementation and governance in the Union Territory.
The visit of the Hon’ble Minister and review meeting reaffirmed the Government of India’s strong commitment towards accelerating MSME growth in geographically remote regions such as the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and enhancing awareness among entrepreneurs about the benefits and opportunities offered under various MSME support programmes.
Shri Vinamra Mishra, Joint Secretary, Ministry of MSME, made a detailed presentation highlighting the objectives, achievements, and impact of various flagship MSME schemes being implemented across the country, with special emphasis on their implementation and performance in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
In his address, Secretary (Industries), A&N Administration provided a comprehensive overview of the MSME ecosystem in the Islands. He highlighted the growth potential of MSMEs in the Union Territory while emphasizing key challenges faced by entrepreneurs, including issues related to logistics, infrastructure, market access, and availability of institutional credit. He also sought continued support and guidance from the Ministry of MSME for strengthening the sector.
The meeting witnessed active participation from MSME–Development & Facilitation Office (MSME-DFO), Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), Coir Board, financial institutions, line Departments of the A&N Administration, and other key stakeholders, reflecting a coordinated and collaborative approach towards MSME development in the Union Territory.