Gangtok, Jan 7: The Commerce and Industries Department of Sikkim on Wednesday inaugurated its Export Facilitation Cell and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Kolkata, at the department’s conference hall.

Secretary of the Commerce and Industries Department, Karma D Youtso, said the MoU aims to guide local entrepreneurs in expanding trade in domestic and international markets. She added that the Export Facilitation Cell will provide support on policy decisions and other trade-related initiatives.

Highlighting the state’s entrepreneurship growth under the ‘One Family-One Entrepreneur’ scheme, Youtso said the number of MSME entrepreneurs has increased from around 1,000 in 2020 to nearly 30,000 at present.

She further noted that IIFT Kolkata will assist in policy framework development, capacity building programmes for entrepreneurs, and skill development of departmental staff. Export Coordinator Subarna Mukhia will facilitate the functioning of the cell. The MoU has been signed for three years and will be reviewed annually.

The Secretary also said exporters can avail 50 percent transport subsidy and support for cold storage usage under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) Scheme of the Ministry of MSME, citing the example of MEVEDIR, a local agro-based enterprise that exported 300 kg of Cherry Pepper (Dalle Khorsani) to the Solomon Islands with the subsidy.

Professor and Centre Head of IIFT Kolkata, K Rangarajan, appreciated the department’s initiative to strengthen the export ecosystem in the state. He said IIFT would provide training programmes, market guidance, policy support, and handholding initiatives to enhance export readiness among local entrepreneurs.

The programme also included the unveiling of a prototype website being developed by IIFT Kolkata for the Export Facilitation Cell. The event was attended by Vice Chancellor IIFT Kolkata, Rakesh Mohan Joshi, department officials, and representatives from IIFT.