Shillong Oct 29: The Meghalaya Conclave of the National SC-ST Hub under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India was held at the State Convention Centre in Shillong on Monday.
Addressing the inaugural session , Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma encouraged especially the youth to exploit opportunities that the region has to offer and be a part of the economic growth story.

Terming the MSME’s as engines of growth in the country, the Chief Minister stressed the need for more financial support from the lending institutions to the enterprises.

“If we look at the available figures, banks loan almost 85% to large enterprises and only 15% to the MSME’s. There is a gap in the support given to these small enterprises”, the Chief Minister added.

In order to support entrepreneurs the Chief Minister has also stated the need to encourage offices and institutions to buy locally produced products.

“Under the Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) Order 2012 every Central Government Ministries, Departments and Public Sector Undertakings are required to procure minimum of 20 per cent of their total annual value of goods or services from Micro and Small Enterprises and 4% of total procurement of goods and services is to be made from Micro and Small Enterprises owned by SC & ST entrepreneurs”, the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister also urged all entrepreneurs to develop a competitive spirit in order to fuel creativity and innovation.

Among the officials and dignitaries present at the function was Sniawbhalang Dhar, Minister for Commerce & Industries, Health Minister A.L.Hek, Inder Iqbal Singh, National Working President Forum of SC ST Legislatures and Parliamentarians, K.S. Siddique, Zonal Manager (NE), NSIC and Karanjit Singh Ngangbam, Deputy Director (SME), Ministry of MSME.