A State-Level Stakeholder Consultation Workshop under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) program was jointly organized by the Directorate of Trade, Commerce & Industries, Manipur (DTC&I), and the Manipur Industrial Development Corporation Limited (MANIDCO) at Imperial Hall, Classic Grande Imphal.
The workshop brought together government officials, industry representatives, financial institutions, and other stakeholders to deliberate on strengthening the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) ecosystem in the state.
In his address, the Director of Trade, Commerce & Industries highlighted the critical role of MSMEs in driving entrepreneurship, generating employment, and fostering innovation in Manipur. He noted that despite their significant contribution to trade and regional development, MSMEs in the state continue to face structural challenges, particularly limited access to affordable credit and high logistics costs due to geographical constraints.
The Director stated that under the RAMP scheme, Manipur has made notable progress through expanded capacity-building initiatives across districts, awareness campaigns to promote formalization, and strengthened institutional partnerships aimed at improving credit flow and enterprise competitiveness.
A key initiative highlighted during the workshop was the Interest Subvention Programme for Women-Owned Enterprises, which provides a 2 percent annual interest support on loans up to Rs. 4 lakh. The scheme is being implemented through the Directorate of Trade, Commerce & Industries and District Industries Centres in coordination with designated banks, with the objective of easing financial burdens and promoting inclusive growth by empowering women entrepreneurs.
Another major intervention discussed was the Logistics Strengthening for MSMEs Scheme. Under this scheme, eligible MSMEs will receive reimbursement of up to one-third of their annual transportation expenses, capped at Rs. 1.5 lakh. The support will cover both outward transportation of finished goods and inward procurement of raw materials. Over the next two years, the department aims to extend the benefit to at least 500 MSMEs across all 16 districts of the state.
The initiatives were stated to be aligned with the vision of the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, Government of India, and reflect the state government’s commitment to building a resilient, inclusive, and competitive MSME sector in Manipur.
The workshop concluded with interactive deliberations, during which stakeholders shared suggestions and feedback for further strengthening policy implementation and ensuring sustainable growth of MSMEs in the state.
