Aspiring entrepreneurs, innovators and startup founders participate in interactive sessions on innovation-driven growth
Reyaz Rashid
Baramulla, May 21: In a major initiative aimed at strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in north Kashmir, Startup India under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India, in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) and District Administration Baramulla, organized a day long – the TEJAS (Transforming Entrepreneurial Journeys Across States and Districts) workshop at Dak Bungalow Baramulla on Wednesday.
The workshop brought together aspiring entrepreneurs, startup founders, innovators, students, industry experts and government officials on a common platform to encourage innovation-led entrepreneurship and sustainable economic growth in the district.
The event was inaugurated by Director JKEDI, Mohd Younis Malik, in the presence of Additional Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Syed Altaf Hussain Musvi, Chief Planning Officer Baramulla, Nisar Ahmad, General Manager District Industries Centre (DIC) Baramulla and resource persons from Startup India besides several senior officers.
Addressing the gathering, Director JKEDI Mohd Younis Malik highlighted the immense entrepreneurial potential among the youth of Baramulla and stressed the need for building a strong ecosystem that supports innovation, enterprise creation and sustainable livelihoods.
He said the government is committed to creating an enabling environment for startups and innovators through various initiatives under Startup India and JKEDI, enabling youth to emerge as job creators rather than job seekers.
Later, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Dr. Syed Fakharu-din Bukhari also visited the workshop and assured full support from the District Administration to aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators. He said every possible assistance would be extended to help young entrepreneurs transform their ideas into commercially viable ventures capable of generating employment and contributing to the local economy.
The Deputy Commissioner also appreciated JKEDI for fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the district, saying such platforms play a vital role in nurturing ideas, refining innovations and facilitating their commercialisation.
During the workshop, resource persons from Startup India conducted detailed technical sessions and provided participants with comprehensive insights into the startup ecosystem in India and various government schemes aimed at supporting innovation-driven enterprises.
The experts elaborated on incubation support, funding opportunities, mentorship programmes, intellectual property facilitation, market linkages and policy incentives available for startups and innovators. Participants were also guided on Startup India registration procedures, eligibility criteria and institutional support mechanisms for converting innovative ideas into viable business ventures.
Resource persons from Startup India, conducted detailed technical sessions during the workshop and provided comprehensive insights into the startup journey in India, the evolving entrepreneurial ecosystem and various government schemes designed to support innovation-driven enterprises.
Nodal Officer JKEDI Baramulla Imtiyaz Ahad Malla elaborated on different initiatives and support mechanisms available for startups and innovators, including incubation support, funding opportunities, mentorship programmes, intellectual property facilitation, market linkages and policy incentives.
Resource persons guided participants on the process of availing benefits under Startup India and related schemes, registration procedures, eligibility criteria and institutional support available for transforming innovative ideas into viable business ventures.
The workshop also featured sessions on innovation and design thinking, intellectual property rights awareness, entrepreneurship culture and promotion of district-specific products under the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative.
Interactive discussions on business model development, financial planning, investment readiness and founder interactions enabled participants to directly engage with experts and gain practical insights into entrepreneurship and enterprise development.
Earlier, the dignitaries inspected stalls set up by budding and successful entrepreneurs from across the district, where a wide range of innovative and market-ready products were showcased.