Promoting Government initiatives that support entrepreneurship, crucial for creating vibrant Startup ecosystem: Dir JKEDI

Awareness program on Government schemes for startups & self-employment organized under NMDFC loan scheme

SRINAGAR, February 11: Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, Director, Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) today inaugurated a one-day Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme (EAP) at the Institute’s Sempora campus.

This EAP was organized to help entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners understand the resources and support available to them, and encourage them to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.

“It is possible to tap local resources and create a niche market around the world. There are a number of examples of people outside the UT creating specialty products and selling them on international markets. Similar initiatives can also be undertaken by our young entrepreneurs. The talent here is plentiful, they just need some guidance and assistance,” said Director, JKEDI.

By raising awareness through these programs, we can help entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners access the resources and support they need to succeed, he added.

A large number of educated unemployed youth from across the Kashmir division participated in the awareness programme to take advantage of various central and UT sponsored schemes which would help them to establish employment-generating ventures in different sectors of the economy such as manufacturing, services, tourism and agriculture, etc. The Institute will support any viable venture that contributes to UT’s economy and generates further employment.

Dr. Naila Khanday, Faculty and In charge of the Centre for Women Entrepreneurship (CWE) gave a general overview of the activities of the Institute. She motivated the youth to take up entrepreneurship as a first career choice.

Dr. Sameer Jan, Assistant Faculty, talked about preparing a business plan. Mohammad Yasir, Assistant Faculty gave an overview of the term loan scheme of the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC). The EAP also included various technical sessions on how to start a business.

To motivate the participants a number of success stories of JKEDI-sponsored entrepreneurs were also shared.

Syed Firdous Bukhari, District Nodal Officer, Srinagar, Iftikhar Bashir, District Nodal Officer, Budgam, Arshid Malik, District Nodal Officer, Shopian, Gousia Yaseen, Assistant Faculty, CWE and staff members of the Institute also attended the program.