Shimla: Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday inaugurated the Him MSME Fest 2026 at the Ridge, calling it a platform of opportunities for Himachal’s small entrepreneurs, artisans, and start-ups. He said the fest would promote the Made in Himachal brand and help rural, traditional, and local MSME products gain national and international recognition, while supporting the aspirations of women entrepreneurs, artisans, and start-ups across the state.
He added that this initiative would further strengthen the vision of an Atmanirbhar Himachal by fostering innovation, enterprise, and inclusive growth. The fest, organised by the Industries Department, will conclude on 5 January.
The Chief Minister said representatives of reputed national and international companies would visit the state during the fest, providing artisans, weavers, and small entrepreneurs an opportunity to showcase and market their products directly to global buyers.
He highlighted that a hand-made shawl crafted by Himachali artisans, displayed at the fest, has been included in the Guinness Book of World Records, bringing global recognition to Himachali products and making the state proud.
The fest also emphasizes women entrepreneurship and the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative, which will help rural entrepreneurs access new opportunities, strengthen the rural economy, and empower women. Special focus will be placed on greening MSMEs, an initiative that will contribute to making Himachal Pradesh a green-energy state.
The Chief Minister said that over the past three years, the state government has held meetings with investors in major industrial hubs, including Dubai, Japan, and Mumbai. As a result, Memorandums of Understanding with investment commitments exceeding ₹5,000 crore have been signed. Additionally, 683 industrial projects worth ₹14,000 crore have been approved, expected to generate employment for around 32,000 people.
He added that, to strengthen MSMEs in rural areas, proposals amounting to ₹1,642 crore have been submitted to the central government, of which ₹109.34 crore has been approved so far. During the last three years, 107 start-ups have been launched in the state, while 407 start-ups are currently in various stages of establishment.
The Chief Minister said the fest would serve as a milestone in connecting Himachal Pradesh’s MSME sector with markets, investments, and modern technologies globally, reflecting its theme, “The Craft of the Hills on the Global Stage.” He further said that the fest provides a unique convergence point for emerging and established start-ups, where ideas, innovation, and investment come together. Entrepreneurs will be able to exhibit their products and services, engage directly with investors and buyers, and explore opportunities for business expansion.
On the occasion, he also released the Him Innovation Coffee Book and honoured various entrepreneurs. He extended his best wishes to all participants taking part in the fest and visited the exhibitions set up by various entrepreneurs, showing keen interest in the displays.
Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan welcomed the Chief Minister and outlined the itinerary of the three-day fest, which also includes interactive sessions. He said sectors such as green mobility, defence, pharmaceuticals, dairy, food processing, artificial intelligence, electronic chips, and data centres are being accorded priority to accelerate industrialisation and promote green industries. Strategic dialogues are being held with leading industry players in these emerging sectors.
Dr Rajneesh, Development Commissioner for MSME, Ministry of Government of India, lauded the efforts of the state government to promote MSMEs in the state. Additional Chief Secretary R.D. Nazim gave a detailed presentation on start-ups, industrial development, and various schemes of the department. Commissioner Industries Dr Yunus welcomed the Chief Minister and provided a detailed presentation on the MSME fest, apprising him of industrial development and related activities in the state.
Founded in 2016, The Traveller Trails is a print and digital magazine and a trusted source for current news, trends, analysis, opinions, interesting blogs, videos and exclusive interviews from every corner of the world.
