Sri City, February 21, 2019:- An awareness camp for micro, small and medium (MSME) business entrepreneurs hailing from the SC/ ST community and women was held in Sri City on Thursday. Organised by the Telugu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) and Sri City, in partnership with the National SC-ST HUB and MSME Development Institute, the conference delved on the theme of ‘Business & Financial Opportunities for SC-ST & Women Entrepreneurs’.
Mr. K. Subramanyam, President, TCCI-AP Chapter welcomed the gathering and briefed on the objective of conduction the session.
Delivering the inaugural address, Mr. Ravindra Sannareddy, Founder Managing Director, Sri City, aptly termed that MSME sector is the ‘growth engine’ of country’s economy, and said ,”This segment boosts up a sizeable proportion of self-driven-entrepreneurs, and those belonging to SC/ST fraternity form a sizeable chunk. But, this section has long been characterised by a lack of connect with mainstream businesses, resulting in far less number of business opportunities available to them. Hence, undoubtedly, development of such entrepreneurs is a must for meeting the objective of financial inclusion and generation of employment opportunities across the rural and urban areas.”
“I am glad, the objective of this conclave is in sync with the Government of India’s effort to not only address the specific concerns of the SC/ST entrepreneurs, but to bring them into the mainstream fold, thereby, create an enabling environ for them, and strengthen their connect with the larger, pan India entrepreneurial ecosystem,” he added.
During the schedule, Mr. M.Kalebu, IES, Deputy Director, MEME Development Institute, Ministry of MSME, Government of India, and Mr. Rajakamal, Dy. Manger, National SC-ST HUB, National Small Industries Corporation Limited (NSIC), Government of India, through lucid lectures addressed the financial woes of the SC /ST entrepreneurs, measures that were introduced to enhance capacity building, various funding opportunities, such as Mudra, Start-up, marketing aids such as e-procurement portals, and various steps taken by the Government and other stakeholders in collaboration with the Ministry of MSME. Some of the successful entrepreneurs among the delegates shared their experiences in developing their business.
The conclave was aimed to serve as a platform for sharing of information and ideas on various aspects pertaining to the SC/ST and women entrepreneurs. Likeminded budding entrepreneurs across Chittor district, totalling about 50, were exposed to business opportunities, loan schemes to economically support them and project preparation and marketing links. All the delegates of the conclave went round the mega industrial park and observed the existing investor-friendly ecosystem that has already been built-in.