MSME Ministry Holds 5th National MSME Council Meeting

New Delhi, Feb 25 (KNN) The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME) convened the fifth meeting of the National MSME Council in New Delhi on February 24 with Minister Jitan Ram exhorting states to work for development of the key sector.

The National MSME Council functions as the administrative and operational body for the World Bank-supported RAMP Programme. It oversees inter-ministerial coordination, Centre–State synergies, and monitors reform implementation in the MSME sector.

The RAMP Programme aims to improve MSMEs’ access to markets and credit, strengthen institutional capacity and governance at Centre and State levels, enhance Centre–State coordination, address delayed payments and promote greening of MSMEs.

Meeting Chaired by Jitan Ram Manjhi
The meeting was chaired by Union Minister for MSME, Jitan Ram Manjhi. In his address, the Minister urged States and Union Territories to intensify efforts toward MSME promotion and development to boost income generation and employment.

He emphasised enhancing global competitiveness of MSMEs, strengthening collaboration between Central and State initiatives and accelerating inclusive and sustainable growth.

The Minister also launched the MSME Technology Transfer Platform (MTTP), a unified digital platform enabling MSMEs to access advanced technologies, testing facilities, skilling support and Intellectual Property commercialisation assistance.

He stressed the importance of expanding support to women-owned enterprises and MSMEs from marginalised communities to ensure inclusive and self-sustaining growth.

World Bank’s Continued Support
Sebastian Eckardt, Regional Director, the World Bank, reaffirmed the Bank’s partnership under RAMP. He highlighted support for greening initiatives, gender inclusion, improved access to finance and innovations such as online dispute resolution.

He also expressed interest in mobilising private capital, strengthening enterprise competitiveness, and supporting sustainable job creation across India.

Call for Faster Implementation
Dr Rajneesh, Additional Secretary and Development Commissioner, underscored the MSME sector’s growth over the past four years. He urged States and UTs to expedite implementation of approved RAMP projects and maximise utilisation of MSME schemes to advance the national MSME development agenda.

The fifth National MSME Council meeting reinforced the Centre’s focus on structural reforms, digital integration, sustainability, and inclusive growth to accelerate MSME performance across the country.