Latest news with #MSME


New Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Tamil Nadu awards ₹40.5 lakh to 65 student innovations under state programmes
CHENNAI: Sixty-five student-led inventions were awarded Rs 40.5 lakh under Tamil Nadu's Innovation Voucher and School Innovation Development programmes, MSME Minister TM Anbarasan announced at an event at Anna University on Tuesday. The state has ramped up support for student innovation and entrepreneurship, awarding Rs 12.73 crore to young inventors and training over 30 lakh students through state-led initiatives. Among the innovations showcased were a robotic road roller, a safety belt for ship workers, and a pineapple harvesting device-developed by school and college students across the state. Over the past four years, the EDII has trained more than 71,000 individuals, with another 19,000 expected this year. Its School Innovation Development Programme has reached 21.8 lakh students across 8,000 government and aided schools.

IOL News
16 hours ago
- Business
- IOL News
Red tape, funding shortfalls and lack of data still constrain small business growth
Red tape, limited funding access, and inadequate data systems remain key challenges facing South Africa's small business sector. Addressing the National Council of Provinces' Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade, Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams told the committee that structural issues continue to constrain micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) These include limited access to finance, regulatory and administrative burdens, lack of access to competitive markets – particularly in rural and township areas – and insufficient ICT and innovation support. Ndabeni-Abrahams also flagged the absence of a centralised and up-to-date MSME database as a constraint on evidence-based policymaking and effective monitoring of support programmes. Ndabeni-Abrahams underscored the Department's alignment with the National Development Plan's target of generating 90% of new jobs through MSMEs over the long term, and said institutional reforms are aimed at improving service delivery and strengthening the Department's support models.


Hans India
a day ago
- Business
- Hans India
Call to identify land for setting up of MSME parks
Eluru: Minister for Civil Supplies and Eluru district In-charge Minister Nadendla Manohar reviewed the vision and action plans of the district and constituencies with officials at the Collectorate here on Tuesday. District collector Vetriselvi, Zilla Parishad Chairperson Ghanta Padmasree, Eluru MP Putta Mahesh Kumar, MLC Jayamangala Venkataramana, MLAs Chintamaneni Prabhakar, Badeti Radhakrishnaiah (Chanti), Songa Roshan Kumar, Maddipati Venkataraju, SP KPS Kishore, Joint Collector P Dhatri Reddy participated. Speaking on the occasion, Minister Manohar directed officials to immediately identify 50 to 100 acres of land for setting up MSME parks in each constituency in the district. Industrialists are inclined to establish industries in the district due to the proximity of the state capital Amaravati, the main city Vijayawada and Eluru, and the national highway and transport facilities are good. He said that the gross domestic product of the district is Rs 72,314 crore, of which 60 per cent comes from agriculture, 35 per cent from aqua and 19 per cent from horticulture. Collector Vetriselvi said that so far, 27 units have been set up in the district towards the target of 100 food processing units and proposals have been sent for setting up a large-scale food processing unit in Nuzvid, and the rest will be set up within the stipulated time. An MSME park has been set up in Chintalapudi constituency, and MSME parks will be set up in the remaining constituencies soon. In the current year, the district is implementing natural cultivation in 40 thousand acres, and oil palm cultivation will be expanded to another 13 thousand hectares. 'We are taking steps to develop tourism in the district, and we are taking steps to develop temple tourism in the Polavaram and Kolleru areas, and proposals have been sent to build five-star hotels in 3 areas of the district. We are giving top priority to basic facilities like roads, housing and drinking water in the district, and we are implementing the free gas scheme 100 per cent. We are taking steps to complete the target in solar power,' she said. MP Mahesh Kumar said that the Central government is taking steps to develop tourism in 50 areas of the country, and they are trying to get 3 projects sanctioned for the state. He said that there is a proposal to develop the Kolleru area in Eluru district as a major tourist spot. He said that people are facing difficulties due to lack of basic facilities in some villages of the district, and that drinking water, uninterrupted and quality electricity should be provided to those areas. He said that steps should be taken to repair roads and construct new roads in Polavaram, Kaikaluru, Polavaram and Chintalapudi areas. Zilla Parishad Chairperson Ghanta Padmashri said that steps are being taken for the development of education in the district. In addition to raising the level of education standards in government schools to match corporate schools, additional classrooms are being constructed according to student strength and quality nutritious food is being provided in the mid-day meal scheme. Eluru MLA Badeti Radhakrishnaiah (Chanti) said that steps should be taken to set up an MSME park in Eluru to provide job and employment opportunities to the youth who have completed their courses. Denduluru MLA Chintamaneni Prabhakar said that although funds have been sanctioned for the development of existing roads in the Kolleru area, the Forest Department is unable to undertake them due to objections. Chintalapudi MLA Songa Roshan Kumar said that an MSME park has been set up in Chintalapudi constituency and that Andhras are coming forward to set up industries. He requested that roads, which are basic necessities, be sanctioned in the constituency. Responding to this, Minister Manohar directed the officials to submit a report on the repairs of roads and construction of new roads related to the Panchayat Raj, Roads and Buildings Department in Chintalapudi constituency by Wednesday evening. Gopalapuram MLA Maddipati Venkataraju demanded the establishment of a food park and the development of temple tourism in the Gopalapuram constituency. Legislative Council member Jayamangala Venkataramana said that to protect the Kolleru area from flooding, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme be implemented to remove the slag, mud and hyacinth. SP Kishore said that entrepreneurs should be encouraged to set up industries under the Ease of Doing Business policy. He said that Eluru district is an area without any law and order problems and in such an environment, entrepreneurs will come forward to set up industries. DRO V Visveswara Rao, Nuzvid Sub-Collector B Smarana Raj, Jangareddygudem RDOs Achyut Ambareesh, MV Ramana, RTC Vijayawada Regional Chairman Reddy Appalanaidu, special officers of constituencies, staff of constituency unit offices, and officers of various departments participated.


Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
UP ranked No.1 in country in ODOP plan implementation
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh bagged several awards in the National One District One Product (ODOP) 2024 Award ceremony. The state was adjudged joint No. 1 in the implementation of the scheme. It shared the honours with Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Punjab. The state's work on positioning and popularising ODOP items in national and even international platforms, creating employment and conserving traditional art has been recognised. Secretary, MSME, Pranjal Yadav received the award on behalf of the department led by Alok Kumar II. The award was presented by Union minister for commerce and industry Piyush Goyal at an event in Delhi on Monday. In the district category, Siddharthnagar won the bronze award for the revival of Kalanamak rice from among 687 entries. Siddharthnagar district magistrate Raja Ganapati said the award acknowledges the district's exceptional work in promoting Kalanamak rice—a product deeply rooted in the region's heritage and noted for its distinct taste, aroma, and nutritional value. He said a central govt team, which conducted a survey of the district a few months ago, was impressed with the district's relentless efforts to improve production, quality, and market reach. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Urban Ascent by Emaar 4 BHK Apartments Starting at ₹ 5.25 Cr* on Dwarka E-Way , Near Gurugram Emaar India Get Quote Undo "The ODOP award is a testament to the district's commitment to promoting its iconic product on a global platform. With the Uttar Pradesh govt's support, the district administration is working to further boost the production and marketability of Kalanamak rice. The initiative already showed promising results, with the crop's cultivation expanding from 2,000 hectares to nearly 20,000 hectares, benefiting local farmers economically," he said. A govt spokesman said this achievement is particularly notable given the GI-tagged status of Kalanamak rice, underscoring its unique value. Moreover, the impact of the ODOP initiative is evident in the significant increase in cultivation area—from 2,000 hectares in 2018 to 18,000 hectares now, marking a nine-fold rise since its inclusion in the programme. The growth highlights the effectiveness of the ODOP initiative in promoting local products and improving farmers' livelihoods, the govt spokesman further added.


Entrepreneur
2 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Skilling, Jobs, and Shift Toward Entrepreneurship: World Youth Skills Day 2025
India doesn't lack talent. It lacks an ecosystem that believes in the power of its young builders. World Youth Skills Day 2025 is a reminder: the future isn't just about finding jobs; it's about creating them. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. As India marks World Youth Skills Day 2025, one thing is clear: the traditional narrative of skilling youth to fit into pre-existing jobs is no longer enough. In the shadows of expanding digital economies and a transforming MSME landscape, a deeper shift is underway, one where the real challenge is not just creating job seekers, but enabling job creators. The transition from classroom to workplace has long been broken for India's youth, particularly in Tier-II and rural areas. But now, that gap is being filled not just by vocational training or digital literacy programs, but by a growing ambition among young people to build something of their own. According to Husain Tinwala, president, upGrad Rekrut, "Skilling alone isn't enough. To truly enable young people to become job creators, we must seed an entrepreneurial mindset early—during their school and college years." He emphasizes a shift from the "train and place" model to a more forward-thinking "train and create" approach. This year's World Youth Skills Day arrives against a backdrop of micro-enterprises popping up across India's heartland; from D2C brands born in small towns to hyperlocal services using digital platforms to reach customers. There is momentum, but also friction. The skills gap isn't just technical; it's structural. Tinwala points to a lack of executional capability, noting, "The intent is there, but the playbook is missing." He calls for new support systems: accelerators tailored for Tier-II and Tier-III cities, access to micro-grants, and mentorship rooted in local contexts. Praveen Nijhara, CEO of Hansa Research, echoes the sentiment, but from a data-driven lens. "While skilling initiatives enhance employability, the lack of access to market intelligence remains a significant barrier to entrepreneurship." For many aspiring young entrepreneurs, especially outside metro regions, understanding demand trends or viable business models remains out of reach. Nijhara argues that skilling must be coupled with opportunity mapping and localized incubation ecosystems to close the loop between skills and sustainability. Even where skilling programs are reaching rural India, challenges remain. Initiatives like PMKVY and NATS have created a baseline, but delivery is uneven. Dr. Nipun Sharma, CEO of TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, explains, "While India's skilling initiatives have expanded beyond metros, rural skilling remains hindered by limited infrastructure and low awareness." He notes that mobile training units and localized skilling hubs are showing promise, especially when they leverage technology like AI-based adaptive learning. But scaling that success requires policy shifts; ones that better reflect the dynamism and demands of MSMEs. Sharma warns that current apprenticeship utilization in India is dismally low compared to global benchmarks. He proposes a "unified, tech-driven skilling framework" with AI-powered dashboards, stackable micro-credentials, and co-designed curricula involving both MSMEs and tech players. Incentives matter too: tax breaks, CSR alignment, and streamlined regulation could draw deeper private sector participation. On the ground, young people are finding ways to navigate the system despite its cracks. Nijhara cites a recent Hansa Research initiative where local youth were trained to run field surveys and basic analytics. The effort created a double dividend: enhanced employability for participants and deeper market reach for the company. This kind of targeted, outcome-based skilling, where the skill feeds directly into the local economic ecosystem is where the sector is beginning to gain traction. Still, formalization remains one of the most urgent, and least addressed, transitions. Over 90 per cent of India's workforce remains in the informal sector. Tinwala argues that this is not a problem skilling alone can solve. "Employers, particularly MSMEs, must be nudged and at times incentivised to formalise hiring," he says. At the same time, youth must be made aware of the long-term value of formal employment, from financial security to upward mobility. Hybrid platforms that bridge gig work to formal apprenticeships could be instrumental in building that bridge. Sharma agrees that fostering entrepreneurship in rural and semi-urban regions demands more than just intent. "Less than 5 per cent of India's workforce receives formal skills training," he says, pointing to the urgent need for mentorship, incubation, and access to innovation hubs. Equally critical are emerging tech skills, (AI, blockchain, automation) that are becoming foundational to even micro-enterprise success. The stakes couldn't be higher. India is sitting on a demographic edge: a massive youth population ready to work, innovate, and lead, if given the right tools. The real test for India's skilling ecosystem is not just to teach coding or machinery operation, but to inspire risk-taking, equip problem-solving, and foster resilience in the face of volatile markets. And while skilling remains a crucial first step, what follows must be bold, contextual, and ambitious. As Tinwala puts it, "Imagine a national portal or a 'Shark Tank'-style initiative tailored for India's heartland—that's the kind of ambition we need." India doesn't lack talent. It lacks an ecosystem that believes in the power of its young builders. World Youth Skills Day 2025 is a reminder: the future isn't just about finding jobs; it's about creating them.