IIE Guwahati

Guwahati, Aug. 22: The Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship, Guwahati, is setting up branch offices in the region to give a boost to the entrepreneurship sector.

Established under the ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises in 1993, IIE’s move to open branches in other states of the region is based on the recommendation of Prime Minister’s task force on micro, small and medium enterprises.

The first office will start operating in Sikkim soon and the government there has provided readymade infrastructure in Zorethang.

The Nagaland government has also earmarked land for the IIE branch office in Dimapur while discussion with Mizoram and other state governments are in the final stages.

“The opening of branches of the IIE is necessary because of the lower rates of inception, growth and survival of enterprises in the region as compared to other parts of the country. The entire effort is to boost performance of this sector with specific interventions aimed at various bottlenecks associated with underdevelopment of the region,” the director of IIE, K. Ahmed, told The Telegraph.

These state offices will work under the direct control of the IIE and under overall direction of ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises. “All branch offices will specifically focus on developing strategies for the host states and work towards development of the micro, small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurship in that particular state,” he said.

In an effort to promote cluster development, the IIE is holding a three-day cluster conclave — a buyer-seller meet focussing at micro and small enterprise clusters — in the city from August 29 to 31.

This is the only event in the country that focuses on the micro and small enterprise clusters.

The conclave will showcase products from 19 different clusters from eight states of the region as well as three clusters from Uttarakhand.

“A select group of people from among 15,000 beneficiaries in these clusters will display their unique products which have been blended with modern craftsmanship,” Ahmed said.

The prime objective of this event is to provide a competitive edge to these enterprises through market links and the provision of interacting with various categories of buyers.

Ahmed said another aim of this conclave is to raise awareness among people about the indigenous products of the country, which are being manufactured by highly skilled craftsmen but who are not well equipped to face the competition of an open economy.

The director said more enterprises under the ambit of micro, small and medium enterprises cluster development programme can be included and give them a competitive advantage.