Corporate Mitra webinar by IICA Shillong draws 450-plus participants from Manipur, focusing on youth employment, MSME formalisation, professional skills and entrepreneurship.
Imphal, August 13: The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs Shillong (IICA-Shillong), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, organised an awareness webinar on the Corporate Mitra initiative on August 13, drawing more than 450 students, professionals, entrepreneurs and MSME representatives from Manipur.
The outreach programme was aimed at creating awareness about the initiative among youth, students, professionals and enterprises in Manipur and the wider Northeast. Organisers said the scheme is intended to promote youth employment and entrepreneurship while encouraging the formalisation of informal enterprises and improving their access to finance and markets.
Senior government officials, academic leaders, regional stakeholders and representatives of professional institutes, including the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) and Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI), participated in the programme.
The Corporate Mitra Scheme, introduced in the Union Budget 2026-27, seeks to strengthen the MSME ecosystem, particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, in line with the Viksit Bharat @ 2047 vision.
Under the initiative, qualified and accredited para-professionals known as “Corporate Mitras” are envisaged as local business support providers. They would assist enterprises with areas such as regulatory compliance, taxation, accounting, financial management, legal matters and secretarial practices.
The initiative is designed to allow entrepreneurs and MSMEs to focus more on business expansion, innovation and market development while receiving support with administrative and compliance requirements. At the same time, it is intended to create employment and livelihood opportunities for local youth.
IICA-Shillong has been designated as the nodal agency for outreach, promotion and implementation of the initiative in the Northeast, in coordination with state governments and other stakeholders.
Focus on youth and MSME support
The webinar opened with remarks by Sangeeta Boruah, Academic Lead and Principal Researcher for Entrepreneurship and MSME Ecosystems at IICA Shillong. She outlined the initiative’s focus on creating a skilled pool of job-ready enterprise service facilitators who can support MSMEs and start-ups.
Debarun Kalita, Officer on Special Duty at IICA Shillong and the designated Nodal Officer for the Corporate Mitra initiative in the Northeast, introduced the scheme as a measure aimed at strengthening MSMEs and supporting the Viksit Bharat vision.
Kalita said the initiative seeks to promote entrepreneurship and ease of doing business, particularly in the Northeast. He also highlighted opportunities for local youth and students to develop employability skills, earn additional income and gain practical enterprise experience.
He described the initiative as a mechanism to bring together two key components of economic growth—youth and businesses—with trained local youth supporting MSMEs while gaining practical exposure.
According to Kalita, the scheme's conceptualisation took into account challenges faced by enterprises in the Northeast, including difficulties in scaling up, high compliance costs and shortages of local statutory professionals.
He stressed the importance of successful implementation across the Northeastern states, particularly Manipur, and encouraged eligible youth and students in the state to enrol in the programme.
Scheme seen as response to professional services gap
Sanjay Kumar Gupta, ICLS, Regional Director, Northeast Region, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, delivered a special address and pointed to a shortage of professional services in Manipur.
Gupta said the Corporate Mitra initiative could help bridge this gap while strengthening the state’s MSME ecosystem by expanding access to professional business support.
Sudhaker Shukla, IES, former Whole Time Member of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India and Head of the Centre for Insolvency and Bankruptcy at IICA, delivered the expert address.
Shukla explained the scheme’s focus on both youth and MSMEs and described Corporate Mitras as potential facilitators of entrepreneurship and small-business growth. He said trained Corporate Mitras could eventually serve as a link between young professionals and businesses and contribute to economic activity.
Sherry Lalthangzo, IES, Economic Adviser, North Eastern Council, delivered the keynote address. She discussed infrastructure development and export opportunities in Manipur and emphasised the need for skilled facilitators who can help local enterprises make use of emerging economic opportunities.
Lalthangzo also referred to improvements in connectivity, including air, telecommunications and road infrastructure, and stressed the need to strengthen employability and entrepreneurial capabilities alongside these developments.
She said initiatives such as Corporate Mitra could contribute to the Northeast’s socio-economic development and help the region play a larger role in the Viksit Bharat vision.
Training includes accounting, taxation and compliance
A technical session was conducted by CA Arpit Kabra, Central Council Member of ICAI.
Kabra provided an overview of the Corporate Mitra Scheme, covering its objectives, structure, certification framework, eligibility criteria, career opportunities and expected competencies.
He explained that the course includes online modules, webinars and internships with MSMEs. The curriculum covers areas including accounting, taxation, regulatory compliance, financial management, legal aspects, financing and credit profiling.
The session also explained the self-paced learning format and the professional opportunities available to participants.
The technical presentation was followed by an interactive discussion involving students and other participants from Manipur. Discussions focused on the role of Corporate Mitras in commerce, trade and business facilitation, particularly in areas where MSMEs have limited access to affordable compliance services.
Participants also discussed possible collaboration with local professionals, MSME associations and federations to improve service delivery.
Questions during the session covered internship scheduling and flexibility, independent and collective professional practice, sector-specific training, age eligibility and support for informal enterprises.
According to the organisers, internships are largely online and self-paced, while sector-specific expertise is expected to develop through on-the-job training. The scheme may also evolve based on feedback from future cohorts, including possible specialisation tracks and policy changes.
IICA Shillong reiterates focus on Northeast
The webinar concluded with a vote of thanks by Neha Singh of the IICA Shillong Secretariat.
She acknowledged the support of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the Director General of IICA, academic partners including Manipur University, professional institutes such as ICAI, ICSI and ICMAI, regional government officials and participants.
The organisers reiterated their commitment to supporting implementation of the Corporate Mitra Scheme for youth and MSMEs in Manipur and across the Northeast.
The programme brought together students, faculty members, aspiring professionals, entrepreneurs, government representatives and other stakeholders, with the organisers noting strong interest in the initiative from Manipur and the wider Northeastern region.
