New Delhi: Union Minister for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Jitan Ram Manjhi launched an initiative to onboard 5 lakh micro and small enterprises onto the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform.

Speaking at an event on International MSME Day, Manjhi emphasised that MSMEs will play a crucial role in advancing towards an Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat.

Addressing an event on International MSME Day, Manjhi said MSMEs will be a key force in the movement towards Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat.

“Half of these beneficiary MSEs will be women-owned enterprises,” the MSME ministry said in a statement.

He also outlined six key priorities for his ministry: formalization and access to credit; expanded market access and e-commerce adoption; increased productivity through modern technology; enhanced skill levels and digitalization in the service sector; support for the Khadi Village and Coir industry to globalize them; and empowerment of women and artisans through enterprise creation.

The minister also launched the Yashasvini campaign, aimed at raising mass awareness to formalise women-owned informal micro-enterprises. This campaign will offer capacity building, training, support, and mentorship to these enterprises.

"A series of campaigns will be organised by the Ministry of MSME in collaboration with other Central Ministries/Departments/State Governments and Women Industry Associations during FY24-25, focusing on Tier 2 and 3 cities in the country," the ministry said in the release.

Manjhi emphasised that adoption of digital and technological solutions by MSMEs is pivotal to their growth in a rapidly changing industrial landscape.

He stated that legal reforms in the MSME sector, as part of ongoing government reforms, will act as a force multiplier.

The event was also attended by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal; Union Minister of State for MSME Shobha Karandlaje; World Bank Country Director Auguste Tano Kouame; India International Arbitration Centre Chairperson Justice (Retd.) Hemant Gupta; law secretary Rajiv Mani; and MSME secretary S.C.L. Das.