Imphal: Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh today launched the State Focus Paper 2026-27 and said that the theme of this year’s State Focus Paper — “Credit-Led Development in Manipur” — is extremely appropriate and timely.
“Our government firmly believes that peace, stability, and development must go hand in hand. Without development, there can be no lasting peace,” Shri Khemchand stated.
“And stability cannot be sustained without inclusive growth,” he said, adding “This is the foundational principle on which we will build our work.”
The State Focus Paper 2026-27 was launched during the State Credit Seminar 2026 at the Sangai Hall, Hotel Imphal, today. The seminar is organised by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, (NABARD) Manipur Regional Office. During the event, the Chief Minister also virtually inaugurated the TRIBES project in Churachandpur.
“I believe that development at the grassroots level requires strong institutional credit support,” the Chief Minister said adding “Credit is not merely a financial instrument. It is a powerful catalyst for development.”
He further observed that the credit projections presented by NABARD today are extremely important for bridging development gaps in the State.
The Chief Minister also highlighted that Manipur has enormous potential in several sectors viz. horticulture, fisheries, handloom, handicrafts etc. that can transform the State’s rural economy, and stated that the banking sector has a crucial role to play in this regard.
“I would like to take this opportunity to urge all banks and financial institutions to actively support our Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), rural start-ups and agri-entrepreneurs, Self Help Groups (SHGs) etc.”, he said.
Further in his speech, the Chief Minister said that the State Government is fully committed to working closely with the banking sector and development institutions to improve credit absorption capacity and project implementation.
He further expressed his deep appreciation for the continued support extended by NABARD to the State of Manipur.
The Chief Minister also called on all stakeholders to work together with renewed commitment to build a prosperous, resilient, and self-reliant Manipur, and further acknowledged the valuable role played by the Reserve Bank of India and all the banks operating in the State.
Chief Secretary Dr. Puneet Kumar Goel said that the seminar brings together the state government, NABARD, banks, Financial Institutions and community organisations to deliberate on effectively mobilising credit and development resources for the inclusive growth of Manipur.
“I would like to acknowledge the enduring partnership between the Government of Manipur and NABARD in strengthening the State’s rural credit ecosystem,” he said before adding that the concerted effort of the government, banks and development institutions has been instrumental in meeting the credit needs of the farmers, entrepreneurs, and the rural communities.
He continued that the paper projects a total credit potential of around Rs 3500 crore for Manipur for 2026-27 of which 51 percent is for Agriculture and Allied Activities, 37 percent for MSME sector and 12 percent for other priority sectors.
“These projections reflect the state’s development priorities and evolving structure of Manipur’s rural economy,” he observed adding that while agriculture remains the backbone of livelihoods, fragmented land holdings and rising climatic risks, underscore the need for greater diversification and value addition to enhance farm incomes.
The State Focus Paper rightly emphasises on allied activities such as animal husbandry, fisheries, horticulture, and poultry, which holds significant potential for income generation and employment, he added.
General Manager & Officer-in-Charge, NABARD, Manipur Regional Office Partha Mandal said the State Focus Paper is not merely a statistical compilation; it is the master document for planning and credit monitoring for upcoming fiscal year.
“It has been meticulously consolidated based on the Potential Linked Plans of all 16 districts of Manipur.”
Mandal also said that the Tribal Development Project virtually inaugurated by the Chief Minister in Churachandpur district is undertaken with grant assistance of Rs. 1.6 crore from NABARD and is dedicated to community development and livelihood enhancement for the tribal communities in the hills.
“This is a testament to our commitment to inclusive growth, reaching the last mile in the hill districts,” he added.
The seminar was also attended by Chief General Manager & Officer-in-Charge, Reserve Bank of India, Imphal N. Sridhar; SLBC Convenor, senior officers of the Government of Manipur, Heads of financial institutions, banks, Self-Helf Groups, among others.
