Project Digital Saksham Launched For Digital Transformation West Bengal MSMEs

Kolkata, May 24 (KNN) In a joint endeavour, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Mastercard's Centre for Inclusive Growth have launched Project Digital Saksham, a program aimed at accelerating the digital transformation of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the West Bengal region.

The initiative targets key industries across Kolkata, Hooghly, South 24 Parganas, and Nadia districts, including leather processing, fruit processing, handloom, textiles, books, and paper manufacturing.

Notably, the project focuses on revitalising Kolkata's historic industrial clusters, such as the renowned College Street Publishers and Book Retailers, and the Baithakkhana paper and paper products sector, which have been integral to the city's industrial identity for over seven decades.

While College Street boasts over 2,000 bookstores, approximately 30 percent of these businesses have yet to adopt digital platforms due to various challenges, including technical hurdles, manpower constraints, and security concerns, according to sources.

To address this gap, Project Digital Saksham offers Bengali-language training programs on social media marketing, e-commerce, and cybersecurity. These initiatives are designed to empower traditional businesses to establish online storefronts and reach a broader global audience.

"The project empowers traditional businesses to integrate into the digital economy," stated Ponnuswami, Co-chair, CII National MSME Council.

"It acts as a catalyst for sectors like handloom, fisheries, books, and paper to connect with a wider market," he added.

Through this collaborative effort, the CII and Mastercard's Centre for Inclusive Growth aim to facilitate the digital transformation of local industries, enabling them to leverage modern technologies and expand their reach beyond regional boundaries.

(KNN Bureau)