Chief Minister Lalduhoma inaugurated the Micro and Small Entrepreneurs Excellence Project and the Mizoram Entrepreneurs Development Forum at the I&PR Conference Hall, initiatives organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry – Centre for Excellence on Employment & Livelihood (CII CEL) in collaboration with the Government of Mizoram. These programs aim to bolster Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state and support entrepreneurs seeking to grow their businesses. In his speech, the Chief Minister acknowledged the traditional skills and craftsmanship of the Mizo community, highlighting the recent successes of Mizo youths in skills competitions, such as the IndiaSkills Competition and the Northeast Championship, which reflect the potential in the MSME sector. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering skilled youth and emphasized the necessity of empowering entrepreneurs through initiatives like the Handholding Scheme.
Lalduhoma pointed out that MSME owners in Mizoram are capable and resourceful, having built their livelihoods through perseverance. The newly launched project aims to help these entrepreneurs enhance their skills to thrive in a rapidly changing global economy. He continued by noting the importance of continuous capability upgrades for MSMEs to stay competitive. The Chief Minister praised CII for its expertise and past successes in similar projects in different states. He notably mentioned the partnership with the Volvo Group, which supports the program through its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, allowing local MSME owners to participate without any cost.
The initiative is structured to provide contemporary skills and knowledge to MSME owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in Mizoram, fostering engagement with industry experts. The program is set to run for one year and will feature training for 70 selected participants. The inaugural event was chaired by Shalina Thapa, Executive Director of CII, with contributions from GV Rao of the Volvo Group Trust and Shivek Gurubaran, Director of CII CEL, who also addressed the attendees.
