Aspiring Youth Entrepreneurs Dream Big.

The Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) Asia Centre and the Department of Youth Affairs, Government of India, with technical support from National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) jointly organized Commonwealth Asia Regional Workshop from 10-15 November 2008 at Noida, India.

Mr. Dinesh Rai, Secretary of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) was the Chief Guest in the inauguration ceremony held at the conference hall of NIESBUD at 10am on 10 November. Among others Mr. Raj K. Mishra, Regional Director of the CYP Asia Centre, Mr. Aminul Islam Khan, Program Manager of the CYP Asia Centre were also present. Mr. K R Arya, Executive Director of NIESBUD presided over the meeting.

In his inaugural speech Mr. Dinesh Rai emphasized on the need of capacity building of young people to become entrepreneurs. Stating the initiatives taken by the Government of India in this field he told that we should be prepared to take up the challenges of poverty and unemployment faced by young people globally as well as at national level. “Young people are our future. We, therefore, owe it to them to provide avenues and opportunities so that they can earn a sustainable livelihood through small and micro-enterprises,” he said and added that entrepreneurship training in a key factor in this direction.

Mr. Raj K Mishra, Regional Director of the CYP Asia Centre welcomed the participants and informed them about the CYP’s flagship programme of CYCI (Commonwealth Youth Credit Initiative) and its contribution towards promotion of entrepreneurship. He stated that given the global situation of youth unemployment/underemployment, there is no substitute for self employment through micro and small enterprises.

Mr. K. R.  Arya in his welcome speech told that NIESBUD and CYP Asia Centre undertook a number of programmes in the field of entrepreneurship in the past. He also explained the importance of such a workshop.

The workshop, which was a mixture of interactive lectures of eminent experts, country presentations and group work concluded on 15 November. On the last day the participants visited the India International Trade Fair for an on field interaction with successful entrepreneurs, for observing their products and marketing strategies.

Saadia Bashir from Pakistan who holds an MBA and wishes to launch a brand soon with the name “Gear Up” for adventure tourism equipments. She said “the workshop was a big learning curve in fulfilling my ambition”.

Kaushallya had been facing a lot of problems to market her fruit juice products. “Attending this workshop was a real opportunity for me,” she told the other participants. “I got all the answers I needed.” On her return home 200km away from Colombo she would give her enterprise a new look as she looked confident while chalking out her plan of action during the exercise session.

Romeo from the Impulse NGO network in Shillong, India said of his experience of the workshop. “I would share my knowledge with the budding entrepreneurs under Commonwealth Youth Credit Initiative (CYCI) programme.” He is the project manager of CYCI, Meghalaya.

“I have been doing things much the way I like but while interacting with some successful entrepreneurs I have gathered new insights which will help me move forward in my fledging business” said Delwar from Bangladesh.