CHANDIGARH: -The Department of Industries, Government of Himachal Pradesh, has initiatived the World Bank supported central sector scheme “Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance” RAMP. RAMP is being implemented by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME) over the five-year period 2022-2023 to 2026-27. The scheme aims to scale up the implementation capacity and coverage of MSMEs with impact enhancement of existing MSME Schemes by Fostering innovation, Encouraging ideation, improving practices and processes,
enhancing , market access, Promoting greening initiatives, Scaling up guarantees to women-owned micro and small enterprises etc. RAMP also aims at promoting Centre state collaboration by providing grants to states for preparation of strategic investment plan (SIP), which is a roadmap developed by the respective State/UT for development of the MSME sector in the State.
RAMP receives result-based funding from the World Bank. Since its launch, MoMSME has claimed reimbursement of 46 per cent of the total World Bank assistance of USD 500 million. RAMP target to benefits 5.5 Lakh MSMEs during the five-year implementation period. More than four lakh MSMEs have been impacted so far.
In Himachal, under the RAMP Scheme of Industries of Department, has taken a significant step to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation by launching Pre-Incubation Centers in all districts Himachal Pradesh. Regional Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (RCED) has been entrusted with the responsibility of setting up these centers under the guidance of Himachal Pradesh Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (HPCED) in three districts of the state namely Kangra, Chamba and Bilaspur.
Three Pre-Rural Incubation Centers have recently been established at key educational institutions: Industrial Trainin g Institute (ITI) Nehranpukhar, Polytechnic College Banikhet, Chamba, and Rajiv Gandhi Government Engineering College Nagrota Bagwan, Kangra. The setup for Bilaspur College is in progress and will be operational soon. These centers aim to provide aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly students and young innovators, with the necessary infrastructure, mentorship, and resources to transform their ideas into viable businesses.
To ensure maximum impact, orientation sessions were conducted at above three locations for faculty members and officials from various departments, along with awareness workshops for students to educate them about the opportunities and support available through these Pre- incubation centers.
The launch of these centers marks a significant milestone in the state's efforts to build a robust startup ecosystem, fostering job creation and economic growth. The initiative is expected to nurture young talent, support startup ventures, and bridge the gap between academia and industry, ultimately contributing to the socio-economic development of Himachal Pradesh.