Poonch, Jammu & Kashmir, April 26, 2025 – The Jammu and Kashmir Trade Promotion Organization (JKTPO), in collaboration with the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) led by Grant Thornton Bharat LLP and the District Industries Centre (DIC) Poonch, successfully organized a District-Level RAMP Awareness Workshop at Dak Bungalow, Poonch. The event, attended by over 50 participants, including Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), implementing agencies, and local stakeholders, aimed to raise awareness about the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) scheme and its transformative opportunities for economic growth in the region.
The workshop, part of a series of outreach programs across Jammu and Kashmir, was chaired by Mohd Sayeed, Assistant Commissioner Revenue (ACR) Poonch, who emphasized the critical role of MSMEs in driving the district’s economic development. “MSMEs are the backbone of Poonch’s economy,” Sayeed said. “The RAMP scheme offers a unique opportunity to enhance productivity, access markets, and build sustainable enterprises, and I urge all stakeholders to seize these benefits.”
The RAMP scheme, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of MSME, Government of India, supported by the World Bank, is designed to bolster the MSME sector through improved access to finance, markets, technology, and skill development. Jammu and Kashmir has been allocated ₹74.03 crore under the scheme, with ₹66.63 crore from the central government and ₹7.40 crore from the Union Territory’s contribution. The JKTPO, as the nodal agency, is spearheading its implementation under the guidance of Vikramjit Singh, Commissioner Secretary, Industries & Commerce Department, and Sudarshan Kumar, Managing Director, JKTPO.
Representatives from the SPIU-Grant Thornton delivered a comprehensive presentation, outlining key interventions under the RAMP scheme tailored for Jammu and Kashmir. These include Udyam Registration for formalizing MSMEs, promotion of GI-tagged, One District One Product (ODOP), and other unique regional products, and the establishment of producer companies under cluster development programs. The session also highlighted plans for buyer-seller meets (BSMs), a J&K MSMEs Health Clinic, a Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Dashboard, and Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programs (ESDPs) to foster innovation and competitiveness.
An interactive session facilitated by the DIC Poonch allowed participants to raise queries and share grassroots-level challenges, providing valuable insights to shape future RAMP interventions. MSME entrepreneurs, students from the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Poonch, and officials from departments such as Handloom & Handicrafts, Labour, and J&K Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) actively participated, fostering a collaborative dialogue.
“JKTPO is committed to transforming the MSME ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir,” said a JKTPO representative. “This workshop is a step toward empowering Poonch’s entrepreneurs with the tools and knowledge to thrive in a competitive market.” The event concluded with a call to action for MSMEs to connect with DIC and JKTPO for ongoing support and to leverage the RAMP scheme’s resources.
The Poonch workshop follows similar successful events in districts like Udhampur, Reasi, Jammu, Samba, and Kathua, reflecting JKTPO’s dedication to grassroots outreach. As the RAMP scheme gains momentum, it promises to catalyze sustainable growth and resilience for MSMEs across Jammu and Kashmir, aligning with the broader vision of a Viksit Bharat.