Manipur has emerged as the leader in Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) registrations among northeastern states, according to Chief Minister N Biren Singh. Speaking at a state-level workshop on the UNNATI and RAMP schemes on Thursday, Biren Singh highlighted that the state recorded 12,438 MSME registrations between 2015 and 2019, as per the 2018-19 Annual Report of the Ministry of MSME.

“The entrepreneurial spirit of Manipuri people is remarkable,” Biren Singh said, adding that 50% of these enterprises are owned by women. Despite accounting for just 0.2% of the national population, Manipur contributes 0.3% to the country’s MSME sector.

The Chief Minister attributed this growth to initiatives undertaken by the BJP-led state government since its formation in 2017. The “One Family One Livelihood” mission, for instance, provides financial assistance of up to ₹10 lakh to families for starting their own ventures, with 30% of the amount offered as a grant.

The CM also emphasized the government’s focus on supporting youth entrepreneurs, noting that 2,575 individuals have benefited from the Manipur State Credit Guarantee Scheme.