EMN
Dimapur, September 22
Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Kalraj Mishra will visit Nagaland during October or November. The announcement was made during the 5th National Conference on MSME Financing and MSME Linkages held in Kolkata on September 19 and 20 where the Union Minister was the chief guest, according to a release issued by OSD to the government of Nagaland Bendangtoshi Longkumer today.
Meanwhile, addressing the meeting as the guest of honour, Minister of Industries & Commerce G. Kaito Aye had invited the Indian Chamber of Commerce, the organizers of the conference, to the State and organize similar programmmes here. He said Nagaland has lagged behind in the MSME sector due to the problem of insurgency and perceived security apprehensions by investors from the mainland.
Kaito, however, maintained that Nagaland with abundant resources is safe for any determined investors. The minister also pointed out the difficulty in accessing credit from the banks and financial institutions, which are reluctant to come forward to extend such services to the entrepreneurs of the region.
OSD (Industries & Commerce) B. Longkumer and Additional Director of Industries & Commerce I Bendangliba accompanied the minister.
Meanwhile, during an exclusive audience with the Union Minister, Kaito pointed out that the difficult topography of most hilly north eastern states combined with lack of infrastructure like connectivity, power and skilled manpower has inhibited the growth of industrial sector in the region. He also stated that most of the entrepreneurs largely being first generation entrepreneurs require institutional support. He further pointed out that most of the beneficiaries selected under the PMEGP Scheme for the last two years were yet to be assisted by the banks.
Meanwhile, the Indian Chamber of Commerce, Kolkata assured the Nagaland delegation to organize similar programmes in the State coinciding with the visit of the Union Minister for MSME.
