Bhubaneswar: Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary Saturday urged enterprises to focus on producing high-quality products in order to distinguish themselves in the global marketplace.
Addressing the valedictory function of a two-day skill development workshop titled ‘Promoting Entrepreneurial Growth: Economic Inclusion, Market Access, and Digital Skills Development’, Chaudhary emphasised that the world is looking to India not only for the quality of its products but also for the capabilities of its citizens and businesses — an advantage that can significantly enhance the country’s competitiveness.
Referring to the Union Budget 2025, Chaudhary highlighted several initiatives aimed at empowering women and marginalised communities.
Notably, loans totalling around Rs 10,000 crore have been sanctioned under the Fund of Funds (FoF) to help these groups embark on their entrepreneurial journeys.
The Union Minister noted that while the government has implemented various schemes to help citizens realise their aspirations, these efforts will only bear fruit if people understand and exercise their rights to access such opportunities.
The workshop was organised by the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
It brought together participants from diverse backgrounds and addressed key challenges in entrepreneurship, including limited access to finance, market barriers, and the low adoption of digital tools.
The event featured panel discussions and expert-led sessions on a range of important topics such as government economic schemes, institutional credit, venture capital investment, and alternative economic models to support business growth.
The two-day training session aimed to foster an entrepreneurial mindset among emerging business leaders and equip them with knowledge on government initiatives, financial literacy, market access, and digital skills.
More than 100 entrepreneurs from Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh — most of them trained under the ministry’s ‘Riksal’ programme — participated in the event.
Participants were provided with practical roadmaps to scale their businesses and enhance their professional networks, enabling them to thrive in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also signed between NIESBUD and IIM-Sambalpur to promote entrepreneurship in Odisha.
This initiative aligns with India’s vision of becoming a self-reliant nation through the promotion of digitally-enabled and inclusive entrepreneurship.
PNN
