The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), Shillong, under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), organised an awareness webinar on the Corporate Mitra Scheme for students, youth, professionals and MSMEs in Arunachal Pradesh as part of its outreach campaign in the North Eastern Region.
The programme was organised in collaboration with Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU), Arunachal Pradesh. The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) served as the lead co-host, while the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) participated as supporting co-hosts.
The Corporate Mitra Scheme has been launched to strengthen the MSME ecosystem by creating a network of trained para-professionals who can provide affordable support in regulatory compliance, taxation, accounting, governance and financial management. The initiative is aimed primarily at enterprises in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities and aligns with the government’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
According to the Ministry, the scheme seeks to reduce the compliance burden on micro, small and medium enterprises while equipping young graduates with industry-oriented skills, thereby creating employment opportunities and improving ease of doing business.
As part of the first phase of implementation, the scheme targets 2,000 participants across the country, including 200 candidates from the North Eastern Region. Candidates from the region will receive a 50 per cent concession on the course fee.
IICA Shillong has been designated as the nodal agency for implementing the scheme in the North East. The institute will coordinate with state governments, universities, industry associations and other stakeholders to promote awareness and facilitate enrolment.
Registration for the Corporate Mitra course opened on July 15 and will remain open until July 31.
Delivering the welcome address, Debarun Kalita, Officer on Special Duty (OSD), IICA Shillong, said the Corporate Mitra concept was developed under the guidance of IICA Director General Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh to address the compliance and advisory challenges faced by MSMEs, particularly in the North East.
Kalita said many enterprises struggle with regulatory requirements, limited access to affordable professional services and business expansion, making the need for trained compliance support increasingly important.
ICMAI President Chittaranjan Chattopadhyay, who delivered the keynote address, stressed the importance of building a skilled professional workforce capable of supporting MSMEs and contributing to the country’s long-term economic goals.
ICMAI Vice President Manoj Kumar Anand said the scheme would help create a supportive ecosystem for both young professionals and small businesses by making professional services more accessible.
Prof. Rama Chandra Parida, Head of the Department of Commerce at Rajiv Gandhi University, encouraged students to take advantage of the opportunities offered under the scheme.
The technical session was led by CMA (Dr.) S.K. Gupta, Managing Director of the ICMAI Registered Valuers Organization, who explained the scheme’s objectives, implementation framework and the competencies expected of Corporate Mitras. The session concluded with an interactive discussion in which participants’ queries were addressed.
More than 150 students, faculty members and aspiring professionals from institutions across Arunachal Pradesh participated in the webinar.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, IICA leadership, partner institutions and the organising teams for their contribution to the successful conduct of the awareness programme.
