IMPHAL, December19: The Micro Small Medium Enterprise (MSME) Expo cum Food Fair 2013 concluded today at Hapta Kangjeibung, Place Compound.
Oiman Nabakishor Singh, principle secretary, Commerce and Industries attended the closing function as the chief guest, V Tualthang, addl director of Commerce and Industries, as the president, while L Ibetombi, deputy manager, National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) and I Rishikumar Singh, president All Manipur Entrepreneurs Association attended as guests of honour.
Addressing the function, Nabakishor said that the expo aims to develop the small scale industries in the state.
He further elaborated on the need to organize more such workshop, so as to create awareness amongst the people.
Organizing such workshops will also mean that the benefits provided by the NSIC are availed by the people, he said.
Around 30 stalls will be opened from the state during the Handloom and Handicraft exhibition in Myanmar from January 17-19, 2014, he said before adding that handloom and handicraft products of the state are well received from the people of Myanmar.
A total of Rs 14 crore has been earmarked to be used during the remaining three years of the present 12th Five Year Plan for the promotion and development of handloom and handicrafts, he said while appealing to the people to work harder and take the benefits provided by the NSIC.
He said people should avail of the benefits to encourage a developed market of handloom and handicraft products in the state which will only grow more under the Look East Policy of the government.
For the promotion of handloom and handicrafts, the artisans and involved persons need to take their products to outside the state and enter national and international shows and fashion shows, he opined.
Under the North-East Textile Promotion Scheme newly launched, the centre will be providing a power-loom at Takyel Industrial Estate, and to individuals of Bishnupur needing the power-loom at a 70 percent subsidy, he said.
He continued that people should work harder and bring industrial development into the state.
L Ibetombi, deputy manager said that the organizing of such awareness programs will allow the people to get in touch with the beneficial schemes provided by the NSIC in the state.
The organisers had expected only 100 stalls in the MSME Expo cum Food Fair, 2013, however there were 104 stalls, he said.
She also said that the NSIC provides 95 percent funding to any organization while attending national and international programs; and further added that NSIC also provides for 95 percent of the fare charge for the organization.
NSIC also provides the needed machineries and other raw materials to handloom and handicraft organisations, she said.
With the funding from the NSIC, several embroidery centres had participated in national and international fairs, she said.
She further continued that NSIC has opened nine training centres throughout the country, with a centre at Guwahati for the entire NE region.
Anyone who has attended a three month training course in these centres are allowed to open their own units with funding from the NSIC, she concluded.