Parliament Question: Promotion of investments in MSMEs in NER

Government of India Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region RAJYA SABHA Unstarred Question No. 1476 To be answered on Thursday, February 12, 2026/ 23 Magha, 1947 (Saka) QUESTION Promotion of investments in MSMEs in NER 1476 Shri Kanad Purkayastha:

Will the Minister of Development of North Eastern Region be pleased to state:

(a) the major investor summits and promotional platforms organised for the North Eastern Region;

(b) the investment proposals received through these initiatives;

(c) the role of North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi) in financing startups and MSMEs; and

(d) the steps taken through banking and financial institutions to improve credit access, branch expansion and digital payment coverage in the region? ANSWER The Minister of State of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (Dr. Sukanta Majumdar)

(a) and (b) Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) organized Rising Northeast Investors Summit 2025 to catalyze trade and investment in the North Eastern Region. The focus sectors of the summit identified for attracting investment in the North Eastern Region were Tourism and Hospitality; Agro-Food Processing & allied sectors;

Textiles, Handloom and Handicrafts; Healthcare; Education and Skill Development; IT/ITeS;

Entertainment & Sports; Infrastructure and Logistics; and Energy. Collectively, the Summit and its pre-event road shows garnered investment interests of ₹ 4.48 lakh crore through Memoranda of Understanding (MoU), letters of intent, and qualified leads from private investors, public sector undertakings, and major industrial conglomerates.(c) and (d) North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) plays a pivotal role in strengthening the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector in the North Eastern Region (NER) by providing financial support for industrial, infrastructure and agri- allied projects. NEDFi undertakes wide range of entrepreneurship development and ecosystem-strengthening initiatives. It organises business meets across all North Eastern States to raise awareness about entrepreneurial opportunities, government schemes and institutional support. Through its Business Facilitation Centres, NEDFi provides first- generation entrepreneurs with guidance in project preparation, financial planning, credit linkages and market access. Under its Sustainable Livelihood Programmes, artisans engaged in traditional crafts such as bamboo, banana fibre and handloom have received skill development and marketing support through exhibitions and dedicated showrooms. NEDFi is contributing for development of startup ecosystem of North East Region through North East Venture Fund (NEVF). In addition, NEDFi has been supporting the startups from the region by handholding and mentoring support.

The government has announced Mutual Credit Guarantees Schemes for MSMEs (MCGS-MSME), a government backed initiative designed to help Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) access loans to grow their businesses. This scheme offers a credit guarantees, making it easier for MSMEs to obtain loans, especially for purchasing essential equipment and machinery. Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE) was approved on

12.11.2025 to provide additional credit support up to 20% of existing working capital limits to eligible borrowers, particularly MSMEs.

Department of Posts (DoP) ensures financial inclusion and digital payments through it’s Post Office Saving Banks (POSB) services and India Post Payments Bank (IPPB). DoP is working towards digitalization & financial inclusion by offering a wide range of products & services to the last-mile customer with affordability & accessibility through the network of Post Offices in the North Eastern Region.

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