Guwahati, Nov. 14: The North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited (NEDFi) has launched a special scheme for the economic uplift of the women in the region.

The Women Enterprises Development Scheme was launched by Krishna Singh, wife of Assam governor Lt Gen. (retd) Ajay Singh today during the inauguration of the Northeast pavilion at the India International Trade Fair in New Delhi.

Officials said financial assistance would be provided exclusively to women entrepreneurs at liberal terms and conditions for any viable income-generating activity under the scheme.

Existing business ventures will also be eligible under the scheme for expansion, modernisation and diversification. The target group is skilled women entrepreneurs in the age group of 18-50 years.

Sources said financial assistance is often a bottleneck for taking up or expansion of new ventures for women who are engaged in various activities.

The governor inaugurated the exhibition, which was attended by representatives of all states of the region, including Sikkim.

He stressed the need for exporting products of the Northeast, especially muga and patchouli. A buyer-seller meet should be organised for marketing the products of the region, he said.

The corporation has taken 26 stalls at the fair with financial assistance from North Eastern Council (NEC) for the benefit of artisans of the Northeast to display products of the region.

Chairman-cum-managing director of NEDFi, J.P. Saikia, said this provides a platform for the artisans of the Northeast to exhibit their products before national and international buyers.

NEDFi has been working for the economic uplift of the women in the region by providing them with training and financial assistance under the micro-finance and Northeast equity fund schemes and a project for the development of Northeast handloom, handicrafts and jute enterprises.