Itanagar, Mar 16: Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen (Retd) KT Parnaik on Monday launched the Business Transformation Programme for Micro and Small Entrepreneurs at the State Banquet Hall here, calling upon entrepreneurs to create productive assets that contribute to the state’s development.
The programme, a year-long membership and handholding initiative aimed at strengthening entrepreneurial capabilities, witnessed the participation of a large number of entrepreneurs from across the state.
Addressing the participants, the Governor highlighted promising entrepreneurship opportunities in sectors such as hospitality in tourism, waste management, coaching for competitive examinations, preservation of local languages, and community information and service kiosks.
Encouraging the entrepreneurs, the Governor urged them to make full use of the workshop by actively learning and applying the knowledge gained to build successful and sustainable enterprises.
He emphasized that while access to finance and infrastructure is important, the growth of enterprises also depends on strengthening the capabilities of entrepreneurs. Skills in business planning, financial management, marketing strategies, and the adoption of modern technologies, he said, are essential for enterprises to grow, innovate, and access wider markets.
Commending the Department of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Volvo Group India for organizing the programme, the Governor expressed confidence that the initiative would strengthen the state’s skill development and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
He also welcomed the proposal by the CII to establish a Multi Skill Training Institute (MSTI) in the state to provide industry-aligned training opportunities for youth.
Highlighting the importance of the sector, Parnaik said that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) form the backbone of India’s economy, contributing nearly 30 per cent to the national GDP and around 45 per cent of exports while providing employment to over 11 crore people across the country.
In Arunachal Pradesh, MSMEs are steadily expanding, with nearly 50,000 enterprises registered across sectors such as food processing, tourism and hospitality, retail services, handloom and handicrafts, construction services and small-scale manufacturing. These enterprises play a vital role in strengthening local economies across districts, he added.
The Governor also noted that innovation and startups are gaining momentum in the state. Over the past four years, the Arunachal Pradesh Innovation and Investment Park has incubated 106 startups, of which 38 per cent are led by women. He further informed that the state was recognised as a Best Performing State under the National Startup Ranking Framework in January 2025 by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Government of India.
Earlier, Secretary for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Bullo Mamu highlighted various initiatives undertaken by the state government to promote entrepreneurship and skill development.
The programme was also addressed by G V Rao, Director (CSR), Volvo Group India and Managing Trustee of the Volvo Group Trust; Shalini Thapa, Executive Director of CII; and Shivek Gurubaran G, Director of the CII Centre of Excellence on Employment & Livelihood.