MSME Day: Kerala plans set of programmes; mega quiz for students
Trivandrum / June 24, 2025
Thiruvananthapuram, June 24: The Kerala government is celebrating World MSME Day on June 27 with a series of programs designed to emphasise the crucial role of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector in enhancing the state's top standing in the national industrial landscape.
This year’s highlight is a mega quiz competition offering attractive prizes for college students in undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and ITI courses. The initiative aims to raise awareness among the public, engage the student community, and promote a culture of entrepreneurship.
Interactive sessions with entrepreneurs have also been planned as part of the celebrations.
Organised by the Department of Industries and Commerce (DIC) in collaboration with the World Bank-funded Kerala Climate Resilient Agri-Value Chain Modernisation (KERA) project, this year’s theme is ARYSE-Kerala (Awareness and Response for Young and Student Entrepreneurs). It reflects the government's commitment in empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs.
A series of interactive sessions and awareness workshops will be conducted at the taluk level, focusing on local academic institutions to inculcate the spirit of entrepreneurship and to showcase how far the state has grown in Ease of Doing Business and in implementing innovative schemes.
This year’s MSME day is being celebrated when Kerala has made outstanding achievements in the industrial landscape of India since the state-formation. In this context, the state is leveraging the occasion to make the public, especially the student community, aware of the pivotal role of MSMEs in this historic transformation.
There will be seminars on live topics like “Value-added Agricultural/Industrial Production Initiatives” and "Climate change and climate resilient agriculture’ with the participation of leading entrepreneurs and young researchers, who will also be honoured on the occasion.
Minister for Law, Industry, and Coir, Shri P Rajeeve, will attend the concluding ceremony, at 12 noon on June 27 at the Hotel Residency Tower during which the prizes will be awarded.
The event will gather industry leaders, high-ranking officials, and enthusiastic participants from across the state.
During this event, a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the DIC and the World Bank aided KERA project will also be signed to launch a project to provide much-needed financial assistance to MSMEs, particularly in the value-based food processing sector. This initiative will further enhance the collaboration between the Directorate of Industries and Commerce and the KERA project.
Vyavasaya Jalakam2025 handbook, a comprehensive resource book for entrepreneurs and stakeholders, will be released at the function.
The quiz competition will reinforce the state’s commitment to fostering and celebrating innovation and entrepreneurship among its youth.
The celebrations will culminate in Thiruvananthapuram with the grand finale of the student quiz competition, which will test participants' general knowledge and awareness of the Industries Department's achievements and initiatives.
Topics will include value-added agricultural and industrial production initiatives, the plantation industry, and the state’s new industrial policy.
The quiz competition's preliminary round will take place on June 24, 2025, at the district level, followed by the semi-finals on June 26, 2025, in Thiruvananthapuram.
The 14 qualifying teams, along with two wild card entrants, will compete in the Grand Finale, also held in Thiruvananthapuram.
The first prize will be a cash award of Rs 50,000, the second prize Rs 25,000, the third prize Rs 10,000, and the fourth prize Rs 5,000.
The event will recognise outstanding contributions of the MSME sector and celebrate senior personalities and emerging researchers who have made significant advancements in entrepreneurship.
Significantly, the Government recently roped in the state’s startup ecosystem to support innovation in farm-based entrepreneurship, with the Agriculture Department's KERA Project inking a pact with Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM).
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