The Directorate of Industries & Commerce, Union Territory of Ladakh, on January 9 signed a non-financial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Firgun Social Initiative Foundation to strengthen market-driven capacity building of beneficiaries under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme in the districts of Leh and Kargil.

The MoU was signed by Mohd Ashraf Bhatt, JKAS, Director, Industries & Commerce, UT Ladakh, in the presence of Shafiq Ahmad, JKAS, General Manager, District Industries Centre (DIC), Kargil. The collaboration was facilitated by the State-Level Project Management Unit (SL-PMU), PM Vishwakarma Ladakh.

The agreement aims to enhance the entrepreneurial, financial and digital capabilities of artisans and craftsmen through structured training programmes. It also focuses on the mobilisation, identification and formation of trade-based business clusters under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme.

Under the collaboration, Firgun Social Initiative Foundation will conduct free and voluntary workshops on digital marketing, e-commerce, bookkeeping and business management. The foundation will also facilitate certification of participants in coordination with the MSME Technology Centre, Greater Noida.

The Directorate of Industries & Commerce will extend coordination and mobilisation support for the initiative, with no financial involvement under the MoU.