JAMMU, Jul 14: The MSME-Development & Facilitation Office (MSME-DFO), Jammu, under the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Government of India, organized a One-Day Awareness Programme on Branding & Marketing under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme on Tuesday at the Conference Hall, Directorate of Industries & Commerce, Jammu, in association with the District Administration Jammu. The programme aimed to create awareness among PM Vishwakarma beneficiaries and artisans regarding branding, digital marketing, financial inclusion, product packaging, government support schemes, and entrepreneurship development to enhance their market competitiveness and income generation.
The programme commenced with a welcome address and programme coordination by Kanav Kapahi, Coordinator, PMU Team, who welcomed the dignitaries, resource persons, and participants and highlighted the objectives of the awareness programme.
D.K. Tyagi, IEDS, MSME-DFO Jammu, delivered the introductory address and provided a brief overview of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme. He highlighted the Government of India’s commitment towards empowering traditional artisans and craftspeople by providing end-to-end support through skill upgradation, toolkit incentives, credit support, branding, and market linkage.
The programme was graced by Shiwali, Joint Director (Planning), Directorate of Industries & Commerce, Jammu, as the Guest of Honour. In her address, she emphasized the importance of preserving traditional crafts while adopting modern marketing techniques to improve the economic condition of artisans.
The Chief Guest, Sania Haq Khan, Assistant Commissioner General, Jammu, motivated the participants to actively utilize various Government initiatives and encouraged them to embrace innovation, digital platforms, and branding to expand the reach of their products in national and international markets.
The technical sessions featured expert presentations on various aspects of entrepreneurship and business development. Ajay Kumar (PMU Team, Jammu) explained the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, while Abhishake Abrol, General Manager, DIC Jammu, highlighted UT Government Schemes for entrepreneurs. Rohit Verma, J&K Bank, Jammu, spoke on banking, financial literacy, and credit facilities.
Dr. Naresh Kumar, Professor & HOD, Marketing Management, Central University of Jammu, delivered an insightful session on Branding and Digital Marketing.
Vikas Gupta, Senior Manager, India Post Payments Bank, explained the importance of QR Code-based digital payment systems, while Kanav Kapahi demonstrated the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for artisans to improve product promotion and business growth.
The participants also benefited from sessions by Rajesh Kotwal, Nodal Officer, JKEDI, on Product Packaging, Labelling and Designing, Shipra Jacob, Trainer, RDSDE Jammu, on skill development and entrepreneurship programmes, and D.K. Tyagi, IEDS, MSME-DFO Jammu, who concluded the technical sessions with an overview of various MSME schemes and Government support available for micro and small enterprises.
Around 200 participants attended the programme, including PM Vishwakarma beneficiaries, artisans, entrepreneurs, officials from various Government departments, banking institutions, and support organizations. The interactive sessions enabled participants to gain practical knowledge on branding, digital marketing, financial inclusion, AI applications, packaging, and Government support mechanisms.
The programme concluded with a formal Vote of Thanks, expressing gratitude to the dignitaries, resource persons, participating departments, and all attendees for making the programme a success.
The awareness programme served as an effective platform to strengthen the capabilities of PM Vishwakarma artisans by enhancing their knowledge of branding, marketing, digital transformation, financial inclusion, and Government support systems, thereby contributing to the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and the sustainable growth of the MSME sector.