ABOUT THE MISSION

Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) the premier investment promotion
agency of Government of Kerala, responds to the changing times and has taken a major initiative
to spread the spirit of Entrepreneurship in women of the state - WE Mission Kerala, an initiative
to help women entrepreneurs to scale up their business ventures.
WE Mission aims to identify promote and provide support for prospective women entrepreneurs
from concept to the commissioning of their business venture. The mission is targeted at
developing a new culture of entrepreneurial thinking among the women in Kerala. The mission is
executed in association with Kudumbasree, Micro Small or Medium Enterprise Department of
Industries and Commerce (MSME-DIC) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is expected
to provide a complete range of support for women entrepreneurs.
Inspired by the success of Kudumbashree, a women-empowerment programme that promotes
micro-entrepreneurial activities of women self- help groups, KSIDC realise that the time has
arrive to boost both rural and urban talented women entrepreneurs.
The official launch of the WE Mission was held on 8th May 2015 at Hotel Soorya Regency
Malappuram by Mr. .P.K Kunhalikutty, Hon'ble Minister for Industries & IT. To encourage
women entrepreneurs an interactive session with representatives from Industry bodies and
Industry house was conducted. In addition to this there was an exposure visit to a successful
industrial unit owned and operated by a women entrepreneur, Sumix Kidwear (P) Ltd,
Malappuram.

The second interactive and exposure visit was held on 25th of June 2015 at Kollam. An
interactive session between successful women entrepreneurs from the industry and the aspiring
participants has been conducted. The interactive session was followed by an exposure visit to
two units owned by women entrepreneurs in Kollam, J-Force Industries, a Solvent cement
manufacturing unit at Kollam and M/s Arun Garment & fancy, kids wear manufacturing unit,
Kollam.
Focusing on scaling up the entrepreneurial talents and enterprises, WE Mission has lined up with
five strategies for the same. Offering continuous mentoring by successful women entrepreneurs;
Taking women on regular exposure visits; How to raise fund for the venture; Incubation and
infrastructure support and develop networking for marketing.
KSIDC expects to offer mentoring support to over 1000 women during the next one year and
also plans to provide Industry specific infrastructure support along with handholding of women
initiated enterprises. KSIDC also provide funding support to eligible first generation women
entrepreneurs for scaling up of their activities.
WE Mission is a continuous initiative and programs will be carried out in the various districts of
the state.
Witnessed a gathering of 1500 women entrepreneurs from across the state, WE Summit 2015 had
concluded with state government's support in protecting the local industry by building necessary
basic infrastructure and thereby encouraging women entrepreneurs in the state.
Organized by Kerala State Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIDC) under the Women
Entrepreneurship (WE) Mission programme, Mr. Oommen Chandy inaugurated the summit held
at Bolgatty Palce, Kochi on 19th November. Mr. P K Kunhalikutty, State Industries and IT
Minister, Mr. P H Kurian, Principal Secretary of Industries & IT Department also addressed the
gathering.

WE MISSION LAUNCHED IN THE STATE

Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) has launched its new initiative to
attract and encourage women entrepreneurship in the state, Women Entrepreneurs Mission (WE
Mission). The official launch of WE Mission was held on 8th May 2015 at Hotel Soorya
Regency, Malappuram by Shri .P.K Kunhalikutty, Hon'ble Minister for Industries & IT in the
presence of Shri P. Ubaidulla, Hon'ble M.L.A, Malappuram and Dr. M. Beena IAS, MD KSIDC.
Further to the launch of the event, an interactive session with representatives from Industry
bodies and Industry house has been conducted. The meeting concluded with an exposure visit to
a successful industrial unit, Sumix Kidwear (P) Ltd, Malappuram, owned and operated by a
women entrepreneur.

Exposure visit to Kollam unit

Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) has conducted its second interactive
and exposure visit on 25th of June 2015 at Kollam. Shri. B .Jyothikumar, ED-KSIDC, made the
keynote address, P.I Rajam Desily, GM-DIC, Kollam, Shri. Dr. Biju, Mission Co-ordinator,
Kudumbasree, Shri G.S. Prakash, Deputy Director, MSME-TI were also present at the event
inauguration.
The meeting had and interactive session between successful women entrepreneurs from the
industry and the aspiring participants. Women entrepreneurs from Kollam along with the
officials of DIC, MSME and Kudumbashree formed the interactive session panel.
The interactive session was followed by an exposure visit to two units owned by women
entrepreneurs in Kollam, J-Force Industries, a Solvent cement manufacturing unit at Kollam and
M/s Arun Garment & fancy, kids wear manufacturing unit, Kollam.

Services
To spread the spirit of Entrepreneurship in women of the state and to bring about more women
into entrepreneurship and motivating the existing ones to scale up, WE Mission comes up with
the services like:
1. Meet your Mentor: for continuous Mentoring Support: - Conducts mentoring
sessions/meetings for women entrepreneurs to provide them with necessary advice, guideline and
support to build capacities in them for enterprise leadership
2. See to feel: Regular Exposure Visits to Successful Units: - Unit visits and interactive meeting
with successful women entrepreneurs in Kerala. It will help to enable aspiring women
entrepreneurs to learn working methods and employment practices.
3. Source the Fund: - Funding support from KSIDC to eligible first generation women
entrepreneurs for scaling up of their activities.
4. Launch the venture: Incubation & infrastructure Support: - To arrange necessary infrastructure
and incubation for the budding women entrepreneurs in the state
5. Market connects: Networking support: - Arrange participation of women entrepreneurs in
national and international trade fairs to enable them to build business networks and market
linkages
WE Summit 2015
WE Summit 2015 is an event to promote and provide support for prospective women
entrepreneurs in the State at Kochi, on International Women Entrepreneurship Day, 19th
November 2015.
To showcase the remarkable achievement of Kerala in women entrepreneurship to the global
community and to further strengthen the cause of Women Entrepreneurs by collaborating and

networking (WE CAN), the State government is conducting this unique initiative - Women
Entrepreneurs Summit 2015.
Fostering the growth of entrepreneurship among women and at creating an enabling environment
for business ventures will be the highlight this event. The Summit is comprised of several panel
for women entrepreneurs to enhance their understanding and practical skills to gain better
awareness about collaborating and networking the business ventures, access to markets,
networks, financial services, technologies, and training across the state. The Summit will also
help to inform innovative strategies to strengthen women entrepreneurs' participation and
contributions to the region's economic growth.
Highlights of WE Summit 2015

Sector Specific Discussions

One to one interactive Meetings

Over 2000 women entrepreneurs

Over 200 exhibitors

Participation of national & international agencies

Opportunity to interact with global women leaders

Honoring best women-led entrepreneurs in Kerala

A platform for product launch/exhibition

Declaring the State Women Ambassadors

Award for best exhibitors

Questions:

1.) What are types of training given to the Women Entrepreneurs in Kerala??
2.) How is the government helping the mission of promoting Women Entrepreneurs??