Punjab, Centre and industry join hands to be new ventures’ props

CHANDIGARH: Startup and entrepreneurship are the key strategic pillars of Punjab industrial and business development policy, additional chief secretary of industries and commerce department Vini Mahajan said on Friday.

While speaking at the Punjab’s maiden Start-Up Summit-2018, on Friday, she said that the state government had been working closely with the industry, academia and industry bodies to develop an ecosystem for new ventures.

Around 200 startups attended the one-day event organized by Punjab Chamber of Commerce and Industries (PCCI) in partnership with Punjab government, Union ministry of electronics and IT, and the Software Technology Parks of India.

“Punjab is committed to provide ecosystem by addressing the challenges in enterprise, market, product, knowledge, idea and culture; to create the infrastructure and environment required for promoting entrepreneurial activities; to foster industry- academy linkages; and to create a startup friendly environment by streamlining laws, rules and regulations,”she added.

India Invest CEO Deepak Bagla said that the kind of supportive ecosystem available to the startups at present should really stir up the entrepreneurial spirit of the region.

Chairman Startups, IT and ITeS committee of PCCI Manipal Dhariwal said, “Startups are changing the system of venturing into a business. The challenge is to have belief in the business idea, sustain in the competition, being advised at the right stage, and to be mentored for the right business strategy with the availability of resources.”

PCCI secretary general Dalip Sharma said, “PCCI was incorporated to work in close tandem with government of Punjab and to make concerted efforts to plug the gaps in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The primary objective of PCCI is to advance profound institutional support in promoting and facilitating holistic development of Punjab through engaging key stakeholders.”

“The Startup Hub initiative, the state-of-the-art incubation centre set up at STPI in Mohali would cater to all the teething needs of new ventures. STPI provides regulatory support to all IT export oriented units,” STPI wp-contentector general Omkar Rai pointed out during his address.

News Source: As Published in Times of India on Sept. 1, 2018 City News Edition