Kollam

§1Official help near you

• MSE Facilitation Council, KeralaDelayed-payment councils (MSEFC)
• District Industries Centre, KollamDistrict Industries Centres · 0474-2748395 · dickollam@gmail.com

§2Famous for

• Kollam (Quilon)Cashew processing and kernel exports — India's historic cashew capital →

§3One District One Product

Cashew Nut Products

The government is making this product the identity of the district — clusters, training, marketing and export support go to it first. Starting a business in this product is often the easiest route.

§4Subsidy zone

§5Kerala schemes — available here too

• ESS KeralaActiveGeneral: 15% of fixed capital investment, max Rs 30 lakh
• KELSActiveInterest subvention so that the effective rate on term and working capital loans is 4%
• Nano MMGActiveGeneral: grant up to 30% of project cost, max Rs 3 lakh
• OFOEActiveInterest subvention = lender rate minus 4%, max 6%
• Mission 1000UnclearCapital investment subsidy up to 40%, max Rs 2 crore
• MSME Insurance KeralaActive50% of annual premium, max Rs 2,500
• KSUM grantsActiveIdea Grant up to Rs 3 lakh

Full Kerala pageCentral government schemes

§6Where to go

• District Industries Centre (DIC), Kollam — files for state subsidy schemes and ODOP go here; DIC is also an implementing agency for PMEGP.
• Lead District Manager (LDM) — coordinates the banks in the district; meet them if your loan is stuck.
• Udyam Registration (udyamregistration.gov.in) — free on the government portal.

¶Sources

1. Local Government Directory (LGD), MoPR — district list by state
2. ODOP Product List V33 (31 Dec 2025), DPIIT / Invest India (PDF)
3. NITI Aayog — List of 112 Aspirational Districts (PDF)
4. Directorate of Industries & Commerce, Kerala - Entrepreneur Support Scheme page