SRINAGAR: On the occasion of International MSME Day, Field office Br MSME DFO Srinagar under Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) Govt. of India organized special programs at two locations viz. Br. MSME Development and Facilitation Office (DFO), Srinagar and CIED, Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Awantipora.

Programmes aimed to recognize the significance of the MSME sector and highlight the available opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs in the Kashmir region.

At Br. MSME DFO Srinagar, the event was chaired by Saheel Alaqband, Assistant Director MSME. He addressed officials on the critical importance of the MSME sector in India's economic framework. He emphasized that MSMEs are the backbone of the economy, contributing significantly to the country's GDP and being the largest source of employment after agriculture.

Speaking on the occasion, Alaqband said, "Our role in service to this vibrant and resilient sector is enormous. We must remain committed to supporting and guiding MSMEs as they continue to innovate, generate employment, and build a self-reliant India."

He further added that the Ministry of MSME has rolled out numerous entrepreneurship and skill development programs to support aspiring entrepreneurs and promote sustainable enterprise growth.

Another program was held at CIED, IUST, where Dr. Parvaiz, CEO, CIED, and Syed Zeeshan Andrabi Functional Manager, DIC Pulwama graced the event. The session focused on the potential and opportunities available for MSMEs in the Kashmir region, especially in light of emerging markets and local innovation.

Alaqband, while addressing the gathering, highlighted the importance of entrepreneurship and the Ministry's efforts in setting up incubation centres, Design Centres, IPFCs, to promote innovation, design, Intellectual Property and provide critical handholding support for start-ups and young entrepreneurs. He motivated participants to come up with innovative ideas and start your entrepreneurial journey.

Dr. Parvaiz elaborated on the role of CIED IUST in supporting start-ups, incubating new ideas, and guiding early-stage entrepreneurs toward scalable business models. He stressed that learning the latest and advanced skills is the need of the hour.

During the event, Syed Zeeshan, shared key insights into how District Industries Centres (DICs) have played a pivotal role in facilitating manufacturing and service-based enterprises across the valley. He noted that service sector MSMEs, in particular, have demonstrated remarkable growth over the past few years, offering substantial employment opportunities and improving the region's economic landscape.

The events concluded on a positive note with a renewed commitment to strengthening the MSME ecosystem in J&K and empowering youth through policy support, training, and collaboration.