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Highlighting the importance of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in economic growth and job creation, Puducherry Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan on Thursday (October 30, 2025) said the territorial administration remained fully committed to the vision of MSME empowerment and export growth. Addressing a two-day Reverse Buyer-Seller meet, jointly organised by Federation of Indian Export Organisation (FIEO), a unit under the Ministry of Commerce and Puducherry Industrial Promotion Development and Investment Corporation Limited here, the Lt. Governor said the Puducherry government aimed to take the region beyond its status as a sought-after tourist destination and turn it into a vibrant export hub in South India, known for quality, reliability, and innovation. Pointing out that the MSME sector has always been a vibrant and dynamic component of the Indian economy, he said the country, at present, had around 6.3 crore MSME units, providing livelihood means to more than 11 crore people and contributing nearly 30% to the national Gross Domestic Product and accounting for 45% of total exports. “These are not just numbers. It reflects the spirit of entrepreneurship, resilience, and innovation that drives the country’s economic progress towards the world’s third-largest economy. The MSME is rightly called the growth engine of new India, contributing significantly to employment generation, manufacturing output, and exports,” the Lt. Governor said. The sector, he said, also plays a vital role in generating employment and ensuring balanced regional growth through PIPDIC and District Industries Centre. The Puducherry administration gives emphasis to ease of doing business, infrastructure creation, women entrepreneurship, and sustainable growth. The administration was working towards providing plug-and-play facilities and digital single-window clearances to attract more investors, he added. The Lt. Governor said the territory is strong when it comes to logistics for industrial activity. The government was in the process of expanding the airport, and road connectivity to Chennai, southern parts of Tamil Nadu, and Bengaluru was being improved. Besides, the Karaikal region of the UT boasts an all-weather deep water port with a draft of 14.5 m, he said. Minister for Home and Industries A. Namassivayam said the set of recent reforms, especially the Ease of Doing Business legislation initiated by the government, has received good traction among entrepreneurs. The two-day buyer-seller event organised by FIEO was an acknowledgement of Puducherry’s growing relevance in the MSME arena, he said. In his address, Regional Chairman, FIEO (Southern Region), P. Gopalakrishnan said Puducherry was going to emerge as an export hub in the Southern Region. “Puducherry, though a small Union Territory, has shown remarkable entrepreneurial energy. From terracotta sculptures and papier-mache crafts to processed foods, garments, and handmade paper, the region’s products embody a unique blend of tradition, innovation, and sustainability. The buyer-seller meet is a unique platform as it brings buyers to India, enabling them to experience firsthand the quality, craftsmanship, and competitiveness of our products,” he said. FIEO officials said buyers from 16 countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Kenya, and Uganda, are participating in the two-day event. Representatives of 300 MSMEs are attending the event and in the course of two days, they will be holding pre-scheduled meetings with buyers. Around 50 Memorandum of Understandings are to be signed on Friday (October 31), said an official. Secretary, Industries, Vikranth Raja, also participated in the event.
