Dr. Rajneesh, Additional Secretary and Development Commissioner of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), along with Vipul Goel, Joint Secretary of ARI, Ministry of MSME, held a meeting with Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) on July 11 at the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat.

Advisor Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Commissioner/Secretary to the LG L. Franklin, and Under Secretary of Industries and Commerce Sumera Shafi were also present during the meeting.

Dr. Rajneesh highlighted that MSME contributes approximately 30% to India’s GDP and outlined the ministry’s vision to foster a robust MSME sector, including Khadi, Village, and Coir Industries. He mentioned the establishment of an MSME office in Ladakh and shared plans to support existing enterprises while promoting new ones.

Dr. Rajneesh briefed the Ministry of MSME’s strategy to support registered MSMEs operating in Ladakh, noting that approximately 10,000 such enterprises are registered in the region. He also updated the LG on the assistance provided by the Ministry of MSME to these enterprises.

He outlined plans to enhance the infrastructure of the Industrial Estate through government schemes and emphasized adopting a cluster development approach to bolster productivity, competitiveness, and capacity building among Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in Ladakh. Additionally, he highlighted plans for establishing an Extension Centre to support local artisans and entrepreneurs, offering certification to youth, and upgrading machinery at the Incubation Centre, underscoring the need for adequate space for these initiatives.

Dr. Rajneesh also stressed the importance of increasing awareness about various Ministry of MSME schemes among Ladakhi artisans and entrepreneurs.

LG directed Dr. Kotwal to identify and support apricot growers in Ladakh, assessing their specific needs for assistance. He instructed Dr. Kotwal to ensure that concerned officials prioritize enabling Ladakhi entrepreneurs and artisans to fully utilize Ministry of MSME schemes.

Furthermore, LG urged Dr. Kotwal to allocate the ground floor of the Incubation Centre near Leh Bus Stand to the Ministry of MSME for installing/upgrading necessary machinery.

Additionally, LG encouraged officials from the Ministry of MSME to collaborate with the University of Ladakh to enhance entrepreneurship skills among local students. He also requested Dr. Rajneesh to organize a workshop promptly, aimed at familiarizing Ladakhi entrepreneurs with the various schemes offered by the Ministry of MSME.