DIMAPUR: Advisor for Industries & Commerce, Hekani Jakhalu, has stressed that the future of Nagaland’s economy lies in the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which she described as the backbone of local development and employment generation.
Speaking at an interactive session with legislators on the UNNATI 2024 Scheme and PM Vishwakarma, organised by the Department of Industries & Commerce at Kohima on May 26, Hekani said the department has a long term vision for the state’s economic growth. She maintained that if MSMEs are properly established, “70–80 percent of the struggles are already won.” Legislators, she added, have a responsibility to make the public aware of alternative opportunities and schemes created for them, a DIPR report stated.
Highlighting the RAMP (Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance) scheme, a World Bank assisted programme under the Ministry of MSME, Hekani informed that officials have reached every corner of the state to spread awareness. She said 750 high potential MSMEs would be mentored under the initiative and urged legislators to identify and recommend genuine entrepreneurs who could serve as role models in their constituencies.
She also spoke on the PMFME (PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises) scheme under Aatmanirbhar Bharat, which empowers individual micro entrepreneurs, FPOs and SHGs. Noting the rapid growth of the food processing sector in Nagaland, she encouraged grassroots weavers and artisans to benefit from government schemes. Textiles, particularly handloom and handicrafts, along with food processing, were highlighted as key sectors for economic growth. Hekani further called upon women engaged in handloom activities to submit names of genuine weavers for Individual Weaver’s Sheds, stressing that proper sheds are essential for communication, skill upgrading and government support.
She also underscored the importance of PM Vishwakarma, an initiative aimed at empowering traditional artisans and craftspeople through skill development, financial assistance and market support to strengthen self reliance and sustainable livelihoods.
Industries & Commerce secretary Kumar Ramnikant, in his welcome address, said the schemes reflect a shared vision of self reliance through entrepreneurship and skill development. He noted that UNNATI is emerging as a catalyst for entrepreneurship in the Northeast, with 55 units already established in Nagaland. He informed that six traditional trades have been identified for training programmes and that 1,939 artisans had been trained under PM Vishwakarma as of May 25, 2026.
Ramnikant said the schemes act as a bridge between heritage and the modern economy by transitioning traditional practices into the formal, digital and global marketplace. He urged legislators to extend their leadership in ensuring awareness and effective implementation of the schemes, noting that collective efforts are needed to build a skilled and economically vibrant Nagaland.
Director P. Tokugha Sema said awareness regarding UNNATI has already been disseminated across all districts and appealed to legislators to help identify genuine entrepreneurs. Additional director Er. Lipongse Thongtsar, in his closing remarks, said the department is focusing on ease of finance, technology support and grievance resolution, while promoting textiles to uplift the rural economy.
He added that the objective of the programme was to help legislators better understand the scope of the department so that information could be effectively disseminated to the public.
Altogether, twelve legislators attended the programme, which also featured presentations on UNNATI 2024, PM Vishwakarma and PMFME, highlighting incentives, training opportunities and support for artisans, SHGs, FPOs and micro entrepreneurs. A presentation during the interactive session outlined the government’s initiatives to strengthen the industrial ecosystem in the Northeast and empower traditional artisans.
Officials informed that UNNATI 2024, covering all eight Northeastern states, aims to attract new investments and support manufacturing, services and micro industries. Incentives under the scheme include capital investment support, capital interest subvention and manufacturing and services linked benefits. Focus sectors highlighted were tourism and hospitality, healthcare, biotech, EV charging stations, IT enabled services, ropeways and technology driven startups.
The PM Vishwakarma (PMVK) Team Nagaland presented the scheme’s role in empowering artisans and craftspeople through skill development, financial assistance and market support. Active trades in Nagaland under PMVK include basket weaving, tailoring, carpentry, masonry, barbering and doll and toy making. Beneficiaries receive PM Vishwakarma Certificates and ID cards, toolkits worth Rs.15,000, collateral free loans up to Rs.3 lakh at 5% interest, and digital market linkage support. As of March 31, 2026, a total of 1,884 artisans in Nagaland had been trained and assessed, with loans worth Rs.3.91 crore and 773 toolkits disbursed.
The session also highlighted the Prime Minister Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme, launched by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI). The scheme seeks to strengthen micro food processing units through financial assistance, branding, marketing, training, technical guidance, packaging, quality control and market linkage support. Beneficiaries are eligible for a credit linked capital subsidy of 35% to set up new units or upgrade existing enterprises.
Implemented under the One District One Product (ODOP) approach, PMFME focuses on promoting local products, improving value chains, supporting SHGs, FPOs and cooperatives, and encouraging entrepreneurship, employment generation and sustainable economic growth in Nagaland.
