The Indian Institute of Management, the Jammu & Kashmir Trade Promotion Organization (JKTPO) and the Directorates of Industries and Commerce Government of Jammu & Kashmir signed a landmark Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today at the Board Room, Jagti Campus to establish the Jammu & Kashmir MSME Health Clinic (JKMHC) under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) program.
The formal signing ceremony included detailed presentations on the scope, funding structure and implementation of the roadmap of the initiative.
The MoU signing ceremony was graced by Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu; Sudershan Kumar, Managing Director, JKTPO; Arun Kumar Manhas, Director, Industries & Commerce, Jammu, Government of J&K and Khalid Majeed, Director, Industries and Commerce, Kashmir, Government of J&K
From the Directorate of Industries and Commerce and JKTPO, the ceremony was attended by Imran Mehmood, FA-/CAO, JKTPO; Naser Ali, Joint Director, M&P, Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Jammu; Sourabh Sharma, General Manager, JKTPO and Vishal Ray, Faculty, JKTPO. Also present were senior faculty members of IIM Jammu, including Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean, Faculty and Research; Prof. Sanjeev Pathak, Chairperson, Executive Education and Consultancy; Prof. Shyam Narayan Lal, Chairperson, Media and Publication Division; Prof. Rajesh Sikka, Co-Chairperson, Executive Education & Consultancy; Prof. Pranab Ranjan Das, Chairperson, SBDU; Dr. Rashmi Ranjan Parida, Associate Professor; Dr. Mahesh Gadekar, Associate Professorand Cmdr. Kesavan Baskkaran, Chief Administrative Officer, IIM Jammu.
Speaking on the occasion, Director, IIM Jammu Prof. B. S. Sahay remarked that hosting the PMU at IIM Jammu will enable a strong knowledge-driven and research-based framework to address real-world challenges faced by MSMEs. He underscored that this collaboration aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, as articulated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi Ji and reflects IIM Jammu’s commitment to nation-building through capacity development, innovation, and entrepreneurship support. He also proposed active involvement of IIM Jammu’s students in live projects with industries across the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, providing them with valuable hands-on exposure and opportunities to contribute innovative solutions towards the progress and development of the region. This initiative, integrated into the course curriculum and evaluation process, will not only prepare students to become industry-ready professionals but also empower faculty to drive impactful research, consultancy, and knowledge creation in the MSME sector.
Managing Director, JKTPO Sudershan Kumar emphasized JKTPO’s role in enhancing global market access for local enterprises through branding, promotion and trade facilitation, particularly for traditional industries such as handicrafts, carpet weaving and horticulture.
Director, Industries & Commerce Jammu Arun Kumar Manhas stated that the MSME Health Clinic will act as a transformative support system, ensuring that small businesses adapt and thrive in a rapidly evolving economic landscape.
Dean, Faculty and Research, IIM Jammu Prof. Jabir Ali stated that this initiative provides a unique opportunity to integrate rigorous academic research with field-level interventions for MSME development. He emphasized that insights generated from this program will not only help rehabilitate distressed units but also contribute toward policy design and knowledge creation in the MSME sector.
The Jammu & Kashmir MSME Health Clinic will serve as a dedicated institutional mechanism to identify early signs of stress in MSMEs and provide tailored solutions through financial and non-financial interventions. A Project Management Unit (PMU), to be hosted at IIM Jammu, will comprise experts in branding, marketing, finance, technology and strategy, supported by young professionals and data analysts.
The primary objective of establishing the Jammu & Kashmir MSME Health Clinic (JKMHC) under the RAMP Programme is to create a proactive mechanism for the early identification and prevention of stress in Micro and Small Enterprises (MSMEs). This initiative aims to provide both financial and non-financial support to MSMEs that exhibit signs of stress and are on the verge of slipping into sickness. It is designed as a preventive measure to address the developmental needs of MSMEs, focusing on diagnostic and clinical support exclusively for enterprises showing early signs of stress.
The program has been structured to run over a two-year duration from FY 2024–25 to FY 2026–27, with a total outlay of ₹30.64 crore. It will cover nearly 959 identified MSMEs across Jammu & Kashmir and will be implemented in three distinct phases. Phase I will focus on diagnostic studies and identification of vulnerable enterprises, Phase II will implement financial and non-financial interventions and Phase III will establish long-term monitoring and sustainability frameworks.
Financial interventions under the program will include working capital loans, technology upgradation subsidies, warehouse receipt financing and export promotion grants, while non-financial interventions will emphasize capacity building, skill training, quality certification and strategic mentoring.
The signing of this MoU marks a significant step in strengthening the MSME ecosystem in Jammu & Kashmir. By combining academic expertise, government support, and trade promotion mechanisms, the initiative seeks to create a scalable and sustainable model over a clearly defined two-year duration with a total outlay of ₹30.64 crore, transforming distressed enterprises into resilient contributors to the regional and national economy.
With IIM Jammu as the knowledge partner and host of the Project Management Unit, the initiative draws upon the Institute’s strengths in research, innovation, and executive training. This collaboration not only reinforces IIM Jammu’s position as a leading national institution committed to inclusive development but also showcases its growing role as a catalyst for industry–academia–government partnerships in the region.