Manipur Has Highest Number Of MSME Units In Northeast: CM N Biren Singh

Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh recently announced that Manipur has the highest number of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) business registrations in the northeastern region.

N Biren Singh stated that according to the 2018-19 Annual Report of the Ministry of MSME, the state registered 12,438 MSME businesses between 2015 and 2019. He further added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the northeastern region is set to become the ‘Growth Engine of New India.’

The Chief Minister further emphasised the entrepreneurial spirit of Manipuri people, highlighting that a significant 50 per cent of these businesses are owned by women. He pointed out that while Manipur constitutes only 0.2 per cent of India's population, its contribution to national MSME businesses stands at 0.3 per cent, a testament to Manipur's thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Supporting MSMEs In Manipur

At the state-level workshop on UNNATI and RAMP schemes on Thursday, Singh stated, “One Family One Livelihood mission was launched to offer financial support to families, enabling them to establish their own enterprises and become self-reliant. Under the scheme, one can get a loan up to Rs. 10,00,000, which is collateral-free, and 30 per cent of it is provided as a grant.” The CM further highlighted that around 2,575 entrepreneurs have benefitted from the Manipur State Credit Guarantee Scheme.

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The Chief Minister stressed the importance of empowering youth by encouraging them to leverage these opportunities. He also highlighted the success of seven start-ups in Manipur that have employed approximately 300 internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Recognising the challenges faced by small enterprises, including limited technical support and awareness, Singh urged banks to expedite loan disbursements to sanctioned enterprises. He also advised borrowers to prioritise timely loan repayments to ensure continued access to future credit opportunities.