Govt pushes small entrepreneurs to professionalise and expand

MINISTER HIGHLIGHTS BRANDING, PACKAGING AND OUTREACH AS KEY TO GROWTH

- THE GOAN | NETWORK

Calling marketing the missing link in the growth of small enterprises, Goa Industries Minister Mauvin Godinho on Saturday urged Self Help Groups (SHGs) and micro and small entrepreneurs to invest in professional branding, packaging and market outreach to scale up their businesses — strengthening their own incomes while contributing more meaningfully to the State’s economy as well.

Speaking at a live interaction with SHGs and entrepreneurs, Godinho said many businesses had viable products but failed to grow because they did not focus enough on marketing and packaging.

“Marketing has to be taken seriously. That is where growth begins,” he said, adding that the government had already set up special centres to support entrepreneurs.

Women entrepreneurs

The minister said the State had also appointed separate officers exclusively to assist women entrepreneurs, showing the government’s intent to expand women-led enterprises. “Our women entrepreneurs must come forward and encourage other women to lead businesses through awareness. Participation is the only way we can achieve our targets,” the minister said.