Panaji: In a bold move to catapult Goa into the forefront of India’s entrepreneurial landscape, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has unveiled a series of innovative initiatives. This strategic push comes as the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) Goa Centre celebrates its first anniversary, marking significant strides in fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Chief Minister Rozgar Yojana (CMRY) has already made substantial contributions, disbursing substantial funds to support thousands of beneficiaries across the state.
At the heart of Goa’s vision to become a leading entrepreneurship hub are initiatives like the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP). This program is designed to provide critical Business Management Training to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), while transforming 1,600 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) into thriving MSMEs. The CMRY scheme has been instrumental in supporting over 8,000 beneficiaries with Rs 300 crore, while MSME term loans have empowered more than 13,000 businesses with a staggering Rs 4,100 crore.
The EDII Goa Centre has played a pivotal role in this journey, training approximately 1,500 entrepreneurs over the past year through programs like the Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme (EAP), Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP), and Management Entrepreneurship Development Programme (MEDP). These initiatives equip entrepreneurs with essential business skills in marketing, legal matters, and finance. Furthermore, the CMRY scheme offers loans with a competitive 2 per cent interest rate, covering up to 95 per cent of project costs for ventures up to Rs 25 lakh.
During the anniversary celebrations, CM Sawant launched the EDII Goa website and unveiled commemorative souvenirs, expressing gratitude to his Gujarat counterpart for facilitating the establishment of the EDII centre in Goa. This collaboration underscores the state’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurial growth, with the EDII Goa Centre poised to collaborate with more government departments to solidify Goa’s position as a thriving entrepreneurial hub.
