Despite the presence of multiple central and state schemes, MSME growth in Nagaland continues to face coordination challenges, with officials stressing the need for greater convergence across departments at a high-level meeting held in Kohima on Monday.
The meeting, attended by officials from the Centre and various state departments, highlighted the fragmented nature of implementation, with Union officials emphasising the need to break departmental silos to ensure that benefits reach intended stakeholders.
Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, SCL Das said stronger coordination and collaboration among departments is essential to accelerate MSME growth in the state.
“Greater convergence is essential to maximise impact and ensure that the benefits reach the intended stakeholders,” he said, underlining that multiple ministries and departments run schemes that support MSMEs.
Das clarified that the meeting was not a review exercise but an “initiation” aimed at aligning central support with the state’s development priorities, indicating that further follow-up would be required to address existing gaps.
He noted that MSMEs cut across sectors such as textiles, food processing, steel and electronics, making inter-departmental coordination critical for effective implementation.
Officials also pointed to challenges in areas such as marketing and exports, with departments outlining the need for additional support to scale up their products.
Joint Secretary Mercy Epao, in a presentation, highlighted key focus areas for MSME growth, including improved access to credit, technology adoption, digitisation and skill development, while also stressing the importance of formalisation and inclusion.
She also outlined various central schemes aimed at promoting enterprise development and employment generation, including initiatives targeting women entrepreneurs and traditional sectors.
The meeting brought together departments including industries and commerce, tourism, horticulture, fisheries, rural development and others, reflecting the cross-sectoral nature of MSME development.
Officials expressed optimism that improved coordination and regular follow-up meetings would help address bottlenecks and enhance implementation of schemes in the state.
Officials also highlighted challenges in areas such as access to credit, technology adoption and market linkages.