Guwahati: Assam Small Industries Development Corporation (ASIDC) Chairman Kishore Upadhyay has recently revealed that the corporation is set to organise the 'One District One Product' trade fair in Guwahati's Sarusajai and Bajali district's Pathshala Sahitya Sabha in the next two to three months. According to the Chairman, ASIDC has arranged seven trade fairs before March 2025 to support small entrepreneurs through various initiatives.
"We organise fairs to promote local products and encourage small entrepreneurs from across the state. Recently, we held a fair in Guwahati, and we plan to host similar events in other regions," Kishore told Business North East (BNE) during an interview.
Moreover, ASIDC is expanding industrial estates, aiming to establish one in each Assembly segment to attract new entrepreneurs. With the Advantage Assam summit approaching, the corporation is preparing land banks to accommodate industries interested in setting up operations in Assam.
Speaking of introducing new industries, the Chairman highlighted that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is inviting national and international businesses to the state. Recent efforts include meetings with ambassadors and business leaders. Following the Advantage Assam summit, we expect significant changes and growth in the industrial sector.
"Currently, we are not directly involved in international collaborations, as existing MSME programs like Gandhi Shilpa Bazaar facilitate global exposure for eligible products. We rely on these central government initiatives," he stated.
According to the Chairman, small industries constitute approximately 90% of Assam's industrial sector, and their revenue significantly boosts the state economy.
However, he mentioned that the primary challenge is the "lack of entrepreneurial mindset in Assamese society" and added that people often prioritise professions like engineering and medicine over entrepreneurship. Changing this mindset remains a societal challenge rather than a corporate one.
While addressing the financial and infrastructural challenges of small entrepreneurs, the Chairman said that although ASIDC does not provide direct financial assistance, it facilitates support through schemes like PMEGP, which offers a 35 per cent subsidy for rural entrepreneurs and 25 per cent for urban ones.
He also said the corporation encourages sustainable practices and eco-friendly manufacturing in all new industries. "For instance, we promote solar power usage and other eco-friendly solutions as part of industry setup requirements," he said and added that they actively support digitisation and encourage industries to adopt modern technologies as part of the broader governmental efforts.
ALSO READ: Centre Releases Rs 1.73 Lakh Crore Tax Devolution To States
"Our aim is to expand capacity through initiatives like the upcoming Advantage Assam (Assam Infrastructure and Investment Summit) in February. Additionally, we support around 125 Assam Ayurvedic Products, the oldest Ayurvedic production company in Assam and various MSMEs," the Chairman told BNE.
ASIDC is also exploring the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. However, such collaborations have not yet materialised. It focuses on raising awareness about government schemes by visiting colleges and institutions and addressing challenges like banks' reluctance to lend to first-time entrepreneurs by actively supporting them.
FIRST Business Portal addressing the potential of business capability of North East Region.
