Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling inaugurated the first Entrepreneurs’ Hub Centre at Samman Bhawan on Thursday.
The first of its kind entrepreneurs’ consultation centre in the entire Northeast region located in the Chief Minister’s office is in line with the Chief Minister’s Start Up Scheme launched by the State Government last year.
A fund of Rs 79 crore has been earmarked in the current budget for the scheme.
Addressing the gathering of entrepreneurs, the Chief Minister urged them to be the pioneers and trendsetters in the society and not look upon government jobs as the only source of employment.
“We won’t be able to cope with the digital world as it is all about creation and innovation. Your ideas and thoughts are your strength. Young educated youths are the future of Sikkim hence you all should avail the opportunities provided by the government and rule the world,” said Chamling. He also urged the youths to come up with business ideas related to organic farming and promote the State through organic market in the world.
Calling on entrepreneurs to make the most of the opportunities available in various sectors in Sikkim, the Chief Minister maintained that people from outside the State are benefitting from the opportunities available in the State. “Young people from Sikkim should come forward and reverse this trend,” he stated. He added that entrepreneurship may be challenging to start with, but with time and experience, it is highly rewarding.
Chamling also delved on the opportunities provided by organic agriculture and urged youths to explore various areas such as marketing, branding and exporting the organic produce of Sikkim such as vegetables, fruits, flowers, meat, eggs and milk. “Our government has created infrastructures that can last for another 1000 years but the youth have to take ownership and accountability towards maintaining them,” he added.
Earlier, the Chief Minister handed over token subsidy amounts to eight entrepreneurs from the first batch of the Chief Minister’s Start Up Scheme.