Kolkata: CII has joined hands with IIM-Calcutta to boost a group of 25 first-generation entrepreneurs. What is unique about the venture is that most of these entrepreneurs, hail from Kolkata and four of its adjoining districts like, Howrah, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and Hooghly, belong to SC /ST groups and come from underprivileged backgrounds. They deal in a range of trades – from leather, textile & handicraft, fishery, manufacturing to e-commerce, security and housekeeping services, etc.
Elaborating on the initiative, Smita Pandit Chakraborty, Chairperson, CII West Bengal State Council said: “CII will handhold and mentor these entrepreneurs by assisting them in getting easy credit access, generating fresh and innovative ideas, making technological upgrade, enhancing capacity, and most importantly, establishing market linkages, both nationally and globally.” “The ball has been set rolling,” added Chakraborty, who is also managing director of Phoenix Conveyor Belt India Pvt Ltd.
On March 27-28, CII and IIM-Calcutta are jointly organizing a two-day residential training workshop on the campus of IIMC to train and mentor the young entrepreneurs. “In the next six months, CII will mentor this group on how to strategiz, translate ideas into action, take calculated risks and make tough decisions,” Chakraborty added.
The workshop, which was supported by National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), an arm of the Union Ministry of MSME, covered a wide range of areas – planning for success, developing a brand, brand promotion through social media, financial planning, business proposals and funding.
Source: The Economic Times
