Rising industrial activity, tourism and entrepreneurial aspirations are fast becoming the identity of Puducherry. “In order to strengthen skills for a higher incidence of entrepreneurship and build stronger market ties for existing entrepreneurs, EDII has initiated focussed interventions in the Union Territory with the ultimate aim of setting up a dedicated centre in the UT for continuous progression of entrepreneurship,” explained Mr. Samit Kumar, Faculty, EDII.
Vendor Development Programme
Some of the significant activities in the last two months impacted the MSME sector positively, thus visibly accelerating their performance. A Vendor Development Programme (VDP) was organised on 27 February 2026 with the objective of strengthening the participation of MSMEs in public sector and corporate procurement systems. The programme was conducted in collaboration with the Pondicherry Industrial Promotion Development and Investment Corporation (PIPDIC), Government of Puducherry, under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) Programme of the Ministry of MSME, Government of India. The programme brought together representatives from public sector undertakings and corporate organisations to interact directly with MSMEs. Around 205 MSME participants from Puducherry and Karaikal attended the programme and gained exposure to vendor registration processes, tender participation requirements and opportunities available through digital procurement platforms such as Government e-Marketplace (GeM). Key buyer organisations that participated in the programme included Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL), Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI) and Jyothy Labs Limited.
Plastic Sector Units Improve Business Prospects
EDII organised a Capacity Building Programme (CDP) for the Plastic Sector on 12 March, 2026 with the objective of strengthening the technical capabilities, productivity and competitiveness of MSMEs engaged in the plastic sector. The programme was conducted, under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) Programme of the Ministry of MSME, Government of India. Around 42 MSME representatives from plastic manufacturing, injection moulding, packaging and allied sectors, participated. Technical sessions were conducted by industry experts who provided insights into tooling and mould maintenance, energy efficiency, circular economy practices and productivity improvement strategies. The programme contributed in improving the operational efficiency and competitiveness of participating enterprises.
Women Entrepreneurship Gets a Boost: Celebrating International Women’s Day
EDII celebrated International Women’s Day by organising an awareness programme on Branding, Packaging, Labelling and Promotion, on 8 March 2026.
Women’s Day event was graced by distinguished dignitaries, including: (R – L) Thiru. G. Jayaraman, General Manager, District Industry Centre & PIPDIC, Government of Puducherry; Tmt. N. Shajima, Deputy Director, Department of Fisheries, Government of Puducherry; Tmt. Komalavalli, Founder, Sri Krishna Bags, Puducherry; Ms. Bijaya, Proprietor & Co-Founder, Chez Artizan and Mr. Samit Kumar, Faculty, EDII.
The programme witnessed participation of 72 women entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners engaged in various sectors such as food processing, handicrafts, jewellery making and service-oriented enterprises. Expert sessions focused on ‘developing brand identity’, ‘improving product presentation’, ‘understanding market trends’ and ‘adopting digital marketing tools’. The programme also facilitated interaction with successful entrepreneurs, enabling participants to comprehend the finer nuances of running and escalating a business. New Enterprise Creation, strengthening existing enterprises, improving technical capacities and understanding market practices & trends is now widespread in the ‘French Riviera of the East.’