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I will always remember Dr. Priya Ranjan not only as the Chairman of JK Monitor, but as a mentor, guide and elder brother whose kindness shaped my life and work. Write a tribute at BUDGAM: In a significant push to integrate Jammu & Kashmir's Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) into the country's public procurement ecosystem, the Ministry of MSME, Government of India, concluded its two-day CPSE-Level Vendor Development Programme at the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT), Rangreth, Budgam, with a strong call for local entrepreneurs to tap emerging business opportunities with India's leading Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).
Bringing together senior government officials, procurement heads of major public sector organisations, and industry leaders under one roof, the programme served as a strategic platform to promote vendor registration, simplify public procurement procedures, encourage participation in GeM-based tendering, and build long-term business partnerships for sustainable industrial growth.
The programme was organised by the Branch MSME Development & Facilitation Office (MSME-DFO), Srinagar, under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India, with the objective of promoting the effective implementation of the Public Procurement Policy for MSMEs and creating direct business opportunities for local entrepreneurs through interaction with leading government departments.
The two-day event brought together representatives of major CPSEs and government organisations, including NHPC, Food Corporation of India (FCI), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Airports Authority of India (AAI), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Power Grid Corporation of India, Government e-Marketplace (GeM), Jammu & Kashmir Mineral Development Corporation (JKMDC), and several other institutions. Senior officials from the Ministry of MSME, the Industries & Commerce Department, and leading industry associations also participated.
The session commenced with a welcome address by Shri Mohammed Tariq Ishtiaq (IEDS), Assistant Director, MSME-DFO Srinagar, who outlined the objectives of the programme and emphasised the importance of strengthening linkages between MSMEs and CPSEs through awareness, vendor registration, and procurement opportunities.
In his inaugural address, Chief Guest Vikramjit Singh, IPS, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, Industries & Commerce Department, J&K, urged entrepreneurs to make full use of the platform by engaging directly with procurement agencies and understanding their business requirements.
"This Vendor Development Programme is a golden opportunity for our local MSMEs to understand the tendering process and build lasting business relationships with CPSEs. I encourage every participant to engage proactively and take full advantage of the Public Procurement Policy for MSMEs," said Vikramjit Singh.
During his visit, Vikramjit Singh also toured the MSME exhibition stalls, appreciating the innovation, quality, and craftsmanship displayed by local entrepreneurs. He observed that such initiatives would help integrate Jammu & Kashmir's MSMEs into national supply chains while creating new avenues for growth and employment.
Delivering the keynote address, Amit Kumar Tamaria (IEDS), Joint Director & Head of Office, MSME-DFO Jammu (J&K & Ladakh UT), highlighted the Ministry's sustained efforts to empower MSMEs through market access initiatives, vendor development programmes, and policy support. He said the department remains committed to ensuring that local enterprises receive greater participation in government procurement.
Saheel Alaqband (IEDS), Assistant Director, MSME-DFO Srinagar, Ministry of MSME, said the department is committed to strengthening the MSME ecosystem through a wide range of schemes focused on entrepreneurship development, technology upgradation, market access, capacity building, skill development, and easier access to government procurement.
Representatives of various industry chambers, participating CPSEs, and MSME entrepreneurs described the programme as a valuable platform for fostering meaningful business connections. They said the direct interaction between entrepreneurs and procurement agencies would help local enterprises better understand procurement requirements, expand their market reach, and translate networking opportunities into long-term business partnerships. Participants also noted that the exhibition stalls attracted considerable interest from visiting CPSE officials, expressing optimism that the engagements would lead to concrete business collaborations in the coming months.
The technical sessions featured detailed presentations on the Public Procurement Policy and Vendor Registration Processes by senior officials from participating organisations. These included Laxmi Chand, Group General Manager (E), NHPC; B.R. Meena, Commandant, 110 Battalion, CRPF; Mohammad Idress Wani, Senior Manager, HPCL; V. Ramanathan, Executive Director (PMQA), Airports Authority of India; and Vishwajeet, Assistant Manager, Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
Participants were guided through procurement procedures, eligibility criteria, digital tendering mechanisms, GeM registration, quality standards, and best practices required for successfully securing government contracts.
The programme also featured an extensive Open House Discussion, allowing entrepreneurs to interact directly with procurement officials, seek clarifications regarding tender participation and vendor registration, and explore future business collaborations. Representatives of various CPSEs also visited the MSME exhibition stalls to understand the capabilities and product range of local enterprises.
The second day of the programme continued with technical sessions and interactions involving additional public sector organisations. Officials from the MSME-DFO Jammu & Kashmir addressed participants before specialised sessions were conducted by Deputy Commandant Mohammad Hussain Khan (SSB), Shakeel Ahmad Rafiqui, Regional Head, Jammu & Kashmir Mineral Development Corporation (JKMDC), and Subodh Kumar, Divisional Manager, Food Corporation of India (FCI).
Each organisation explained its procurement policies, vendor registration procedures, and opportunities available for MSMEs, followed by interactive discussions and networking sessions with participating entrepreneurs.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Sajid Hussain Shah, Young Professional, MSME-DFO Srinagar, who expressed gratitude to the Ministry of MSME, participating CPSEs, government departments, industry associations, speakers, and entrepreneurs for making the two-day programme a success.
Officials described the initiative as an important step towards strengthening the MSME ecosystem in Jammu & Kashmir by improving market access, enhancing awareness about public procurement, promoting digital procurement through GeM, and building long-term partnerships between local enterprises and Central Public Sector Enterprises.
