The inauguration of the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India’s Goa Regional Centre was officiated by Dr. Pramod Sawant, the esteemed Chief Minister of Goa. Also in attendance were notable figures including Dr. Sunil Shukla, the Director General of the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India in Ahmedabad; Dr. Milind Kamble, Chairman of the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DICCI) and a Board Member of EDII; Shri Sanjay Satardekar, Vice Chairman of EDC Limited; Shri B. S. Pai Angle, Managing Director of EDC Limited; and Dr. Amit Dwivedi, who serves as the Incharge of the Department of Government Projects at EDII.

The launch of the Centre marks the initiation of the ‘Goa Udyamita Yojana’, with the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India serving as the implementation agency, alongside the Goa CSR Authority and EDC Limited, Goa, acting as the nodal agencies. The objective of the Goa Udyamita Yojana is to fortify the entrepreneurial landscape of Goa by leveraging human capital and local resources, with the ultimate goal of fostering a significant increase in new enterprise formation and the growth of MSMEs.

Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant, in his inaugural speech said, “Goa is also one of the first four states to implement the Startup Policy 2017. On the front of entrepreneurship, while tourism reigns supreme, people are parallelly delving into other emerging areas. The state now steps forth to harness its potential in several upcoming sectors and evolve as a state that nurtures entrepreneurial aspirations to ensure growth. In that sense, the association with EDII will strengthen the entrepreneurship scenario”.

Expressing gratitude for the opportunity, Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director General, EDII mentioned, “The growth in the SME sector, especially in Goa, is profound and is manifesting itself in several domains. Building on this, EDII will undertake a series of initiatives involving training, research and documentation, mentoring and incubation to ensure that Goa becomes a hub of entrepreneurship and innovations unleashing a relentless pursuit for new opportunities and processes. With a focus on fostering innovation and empowering local talent, this initiative will pave the way for Goa to emerge as a leading hub for startups and entrepreneurship”.

Dr. Milind Kamble, Founder Chairman, DICCI & Board Member-EDII said, “Goa, with its dynamic blend of culture and commerce, offers a fertile ground for entrepreneurial ventures to flourish. The EDII’s Goa Centre, I am sure, will serve as a catalyst, nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit inherent in the people of Goa, particularly its youth. Given EDII’s initiatives, Goa is poised to become a cradle for entrepreneurial aspirations and mindsets”.

Expressing his opinion, Shri B. S. Pai Angle, Managing Director, EDC Limited, said “I am glad that we are working collaboratively towards the task of strengthening entrepreneurial pursuits in Goa. At EDC Limited, we stand committed to supporting and nurturing the entrepreneurial ecosystem, driving economic prosperity and creating a sustainable future for generations to come. Together, we will seize this moment to unlock Goa’s boundless potential”.