Vizag Collector asks entrepreneurs to make use of support from govt.

Visakhapatnam District Collector M. N. Harendira Prasad has urged aspiring and established entrepreneurs to make use of the State’s recent support initiatives.

Speaking at the MSME TEAM (Trade Enablement and Marketing Initiative) workshop here on Saturday, he said many enterprises create good products but struggle with marketing. Digital platforms, he noted, present a strong opportunity for growth, and entrepreneurship calls for calculated risk, clarity and steady effort.

He encouraged innovators to use the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub at Siripuram for mentorship and incubation to develop ideas into viable ventures.

The workshop, organised by AP Chambers and the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), aimed to familiarise MSMEs with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and improve their digital presence.

NSIC Hyderabad Zonal General Manager IV. Suresh Babu outlined key support schemes. Technical experts explained onboarding procedures, operational guidelines and online-selling practices.

Speakers pointed to ONDC’s advantages, including lower charges, transparent pricing and integration with platforms such as Paytm, Snapdeal, Meesho and Tata Neu, and said the network opens wider market access for smaller sellers.

Among others, Srinu Appikonda of MSME-DI spoke on central schemes; P. Jaya Krishna of the Bank of India discussed ONDC’s cost benefits and employment potential; and Dr. Y. Geeta Srikanth highlighted the growing role of e-commerce and noted that AP Chambers plans to introduce more ONDC-related programmes.

Certificates were given to MSMEs that completed onboarding. Visakhapatnam Zone Chairman Sobhan Prakash announced the launch of an MSME Guidance Cell, which will operate at the AP Chambers office on the third Saturday of every month. Vice-President Alla Leela Rani also addressed the gathering.