Bhubaneswar, 20 March 2025: Nano and Micro Entrepreneurs have had an important contribution to the development of India’s rural economy. Commemorating the same, a special program was organized at the World Skill Center in Bhubaneswar aimed at skill development of these micro & small entrepreneurs. The workshop saw detailed discussion on fostering digital skills in small entrepreneurs, financial inclusion and providing right market access for their products.
The National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) conducted a two-day workshop titled ‘Kaushal Manthan: Capacity Building Workshop – Catalyzing Entrepreneurial Growth: Enhancing Financial Inclusion, Market Access & Digital Competence’ at World Skill Center (WSC), Bhubaneswar. As many as 81 Nano and Micro Entrepreneurs from Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Bihar, along with key stakeholders including policymakers, industry leaders, and financial institutions attended the workshop.
Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (I/C) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and MoS for Education, today graced the programme as Chief Guest and inspired an audience of entrepreneurs.
During his address Shri Jayant Chaudhary said, “Consistent efforts are being made to strengthen the entrepreneurship development sector in India. Special programs are being taken up to enhance the skills of micro and small entrepreneurs. Workshops and programs will be specially beneficial in ensuring that the products manufactured by them can reach the global market”
“Micro and small entrepreneurs will play an important role in the goal of building a Viksit Bharat India by 2047,” Shri Chaudhary added.
Hon’ble Minister for Skill Development and Technical Education and Industries Shri Sampad Chandra Swain while participating in the program, informed the gathering about the ‘Nano Unicorn’ scheme implemented by the state government. The Hon’ble Minister said that the youth of Odisha aspiring to setup industries must leverage the benefits of this scheme.
The two-day workshop focused on strategies to tackle barriers to entrepreneurship, including fostering collaboration between government agencies and entrepreneurs, improving financial inclusion and expanding market access through digital platforms like the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and Meta. These initiatives aim to help small businesses scale and tap into national and international markets.
In addition, topics such as financial management, transaction management, market connectivity and bank credit support were discussed. Officials from various government departments, bank officials, market experts, industry representatives and stakeholders participated in the workshop and provided necessary advice to the entrepreneurs on business development.
“Today, India has achieved remarkable success in various fields. Especially, the target is to increase the annual GDP rate by encouraging the youth to set up businesses. Therefore, the obstacles to setting up businesses have to be removed,” said Odisha Chief Secretary Shri Manoj Ahuja.
Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), highlighted the vital role of entrepreneurs in driving economic growth and national development and shed light on importance of end-to-end collaboration between government and entrepreneurs to create a more inclusive and prosperous business environment.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between the NIESBUD and IIM Sambalpur, reinforcing the commitment to advancing skill development and fostering entrepreneurial growth across the country. Towards the end of the program, certificates were awarded to the attendee entrepreneurs.
Dr. Punam Sinha, Director, NIESBUD, delivered the welcome address as part of the program where senior management of World Skill Center were present at the workshop.
Worth mentioning, Hon’ble Union Minister and other guests visited the ultra-modern laboratories at World Skill Centre and expressed happiness upon learning that this facility has been playing a crucial role in the skill development of Odisha’s youth and praised the state government’s efforts in this regard.
