A two-day district level industrial exhibition was inaugurated in East Jaiñtia Hills today by Deputy Commissioner, A Baranwal.
The exhibition had 24 stalls for display and sale of a wide range of products produced by the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and Cooperative Societies of the Jaiñtia Hills such as handicraft products and items made from bamboo and cane, handloom products, household products, tailoring and embroidery products, processed food, honey, flower, fruits, juice and spices.
The exhibition is being organised by the office of the General Manager, District Commerce and Industries Centre as part of celebrating Meghalaya’s 50th years of Statehood.
The aim is to look into the well-being of the Units/Enterprise registered under the UDYAM/UAM and to also select the Unit/ Enterprise to represent the district in the State and National level exhibitions.
Addressing the gathering the Deputy Commissioner said that people of district are very enterprising and the number of industries, businesses, and start-ups should also increase in the district.
He said that such exhibitions provide an opportunity to interact with the entrepreneurs, to understand the various activities carried out across the district and the problems faced by the business owners and start-up entrepreneurs so that their problems can be solved collectively with the help and assistance of the district administration and the various line departments of the district.
The Deputy Commissioner also stressed on the need to conduct an awareness campaign on the various schemes provided by the District Commerce and Industries Centre (DCIC) so that the public can take advantage of the schemes. He also informed that the State and Central Government is providing business capital through different mechanisms like the PMEGP loan, PRIME through which the Government of Meghalaya is providing a business grant of Rs. 5 lakhs, and also the intervention by the Meghalaya Basin Management Authority.
District Commerce & Industries Centre General Manager, S. Pasweth highlighted the various schemes under DCIC that include the Master- Craftsmen Training which aims to retain the traditional art skills of the people, Training Inside and Outside the state which sponsors local youth to undergo vocational training both inside and outside the state to create skilled manpower and the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) for generation of employment through the establishment of micro-enterprises in the district.
The exhibition also saw the participation of Government departments of the District like the Office of the Superintendent of Fisheries, East Jaiñtia Hills District, District Agriculture Officer & District Horticulture Officer, District Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Officer, and the District Handloom Office.