Workshop on Cluster Development by Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE)

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: A day-long sensitization workshop on cluster development for Meghalaya organized by Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship was held at the Conference Hall of Raitong Building here on Thursday.

Delivering the inaugural address, Chief Guest, Commissioner and Secretary, Commerce and Industries, Meghalaya, MR Synrem said that such workshops need to be organized in different parts of the State taking all stakeholders on board. He added that organizing the micro entrepreneurs into clusters is the need of the day which will help to promote many micro entrepreneurs in the State. He hoped that the workshop will deliberate and come up with ideas and suggestions to strengthen the micro entrepreneurs into clusters by giving them the necessary sensitization, awareness and training.

Earlier, in her welcome and keynote address, Dr Sriparna B Baruah, Head, Centre for Industrial Extension (CIE), IIE informed that (IIE) was established in the year 1993 in Guwahati by the erstwhile Ministry of Industry (now the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises), Government of India as an autonomous national institute with an aim to undertake training, research and consultancy activities in small and micro enterprises focusing on entrepreneurship development.

Among others present were Dr Sailendra Chaudhuri, Managing Director, NERCORMP, Director, Commerce & Industries, GoM, J L Mawlong and Sr Project Officer, IIE.

The technical session shared experiences of IIE on cluster development in NER with special reference to Meghalaya, DI-MSME on cluster development in Meghalaya and MSE-CDP Scheme, Department of Commerce and Industries on cluster development in Meghalaya and also featured a brief information session about the newly identified clusters by the district general managers concerned. These identified clusters are Sohryngkham Tailoring Cluster, Jowai, Cane and Bamboo Cluster, Chokpot, Food Processing Cluster, Nongpoh and Handloom Cluster, Zikzak and Betasing.