Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday reviewed the functioning of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Department at Lok Seva Bhawan and directed officials to accelerate initiatives aimed at boosting entrepreneurship and job creation in Odisha.
Calling the MSME sector a key driver of employment generation and economic growth, the Chief Minister said the government is committed to providing all necessary support for the establishment and expansion of small enterprises. He urged the department to conduct extensive awareness programmes to attract more youth into entrepreneurship and asked officials to expedite plans for setting up MSME parks in every district.
Majhi also highlighted the success of the Lakhpati Didi programme, under which around 17 lakh women have become self-reliant entrepreneurs and business owners. He directed officials to extend additional support to help them scale their businesses in industry and commerce.
To further promote Odisha-based enterprises, the Chief Minister stressed that government offices, schools and colleges should prioritize the use of products manufactured by state MSMEs, including furniture, uniforms and other supplies.
On the export front, Majhi called for enhanced cargo services by sea and air to strengthen Odisha’s trade network. He also instructed officials to ensure easier access to bank loans for MSMEs, with a streamlined disbursement process and regular monitoring.
The meeting also discussed expanding the reach of the PM Vishwakarma Yojana, developing cluster-based projects, and increasing support for entrepreneurs through policy facilitation.
Currently, over 11 lakh MSMEs are registered on the Government of India’s Udyam Portal from Odisha, collectively providing employment to more than 87 lakh people.
The review meeting was attended by MSME Minister Gokulananda Mallick, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Principal Secretary to the CM Saswat Mishra, MSME Commissioner-cum-Secretary D. Prashant Kumar Reddy, and Director Abolii Sunil Narwane, among others.
