A State-Level Stakeholder Consultation Workshop under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) program was held at Imperial Hall, Classic Grande Imphal, organized by the Directorate of Trade, Commerce & Industries, Manipur (DTC&I) and the Manipur Industrial Development Corporation Limited (MANIDCO). The event gathered government officials, industry representatives, financial institutions, and various stakeholders to discuss enhancing the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) ecosystem in Manipur. The Director of Trade, Commerce & Industries emphasized MSMEs’ crucial role in entrepreneurship, employment generation, and innovation, while stressing the persistent structural challenges they face, such as limited access to affordable credit and high logistics costs exacerbated by geographical hurdles.
Under the RAMP initiative, notable advancements included the expansion of capacity-building efforts, awareness campaigns for formalization, and stronger institutional partnerships to improve credit access and competitiveness. A prominent measure discussed was the Interest Subvention Programme for Women-Owned Enterprises, providing a 2% annual interest support on loans up to Rs. 4 lakh, aimed at reducing financial burdens and encouraging women’s entrepreneurship.
Another significant intervention was the Logistics Strengthening for MSMEs Scheme, which offers reimbursement of up to one-third of annual transportation expenses for eligible MSMEs, with a maximum cap of Rs. 1.5 lakh. This support pertains to both outbound transport of finished goods and inbound procurement of raw materials, with plans to benefit at least 500 MSMEs across all 16 districts over the next two years. These initiatives align with the vision of the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, Government of India, showcasing the state government’s commitment to fostering a resilient and inclusive MSME sector. The workshop concluded with discussions, where stakeholders provided feedback to further enhance policy implementation and ensure sustainable growth for MSMEs in the region.