From young graduates to experienced professionals, from salaried employees to ambitious housewives, people from across the social spectrum are jumping onto the start-up bandwagon that has been sweeping India. And Odisha is no exception. Aspiring entrepreneurs, mostly young people, are displaying innovative technologies and impressive business models at the ongoing Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Trade Fair.

Take the instance of Gobikee, a new start-up company that offers servicing and repairs for motorcycles at people’s homes. Once you register with Gobikee, you will also get four free home visits from their mechanics within the first six months. The company, started by three experienced professionals three months ago, is getting 20 to 30 calls a day.

“We always wanted to do our own business and thought this is the right time to start it. So, two of us quit our jobs at IT companies and started Gobikee about three months ago. The response so far is encouraging and we are planning to offer our services in Visakhapatnam and Bangalore in a few months,” said Amitabh Pradhan, one of the directors of Gobikee.

Firewings, another company started by a group of engineering students, has been attracting a lot of attention at the fair. The aeronautics engineers of Fire Wings are making drones and hovercrafts to be used for various purposes at affordable prices.

“We got our first order at the fair – two professors from the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) asked us to make a hovercraft for them,” said Abinash Sahu, one of the entrepreneurs. “We have prepared demo drones and can customize them as per the need of the customers. “A drone which is available in the market at Rs 3 lakh can be made by us for Rs 40,000,” he said.

The trade fair has been providing a platform to entrepreneurs in the state to showcase their products and services and interact directly with buyers. More than 300 small and medium entrepreneurs from various sectors including agriculture, food processing, handicrafts, handloom and textiles, tourism, engineering, chemicals, metallurgical, plastic and polymer, marine processing and packaging are displaying their products and services at the fair.

“The trade fair helps those with innovative business ideas get the attention of promoters, banks and financiers to expand their business. They also get an opportunity to interact directly with a large number of potential customers,” said MSME secretary G K Dhal.

Sources said Odisha has around 15 lakh MSME units providing jobs to nearly 35 lakh people and ranks among the top 10 states in terms of providing employment. The growth rate of MSMEs in the state is 32% against the all India rate of 28%. Similarly, the growth rate in creation of jobs opportunities in the sector is 29% against the national average of 26%.

However, S N Patnaik, an entrepreneur who owns an LED bulb manufacturing unit in the city, has a different story to tell.

“Though the government claims it wants to promote entrepreneurs, in reality, the situation is not very encouraging. One has to struggle really hard to get bank loans and other clearances,” he said.

Source: The Times of India