13th March 2024: The inauguration of the Goa Regional Centre took place on March 12th, 2024, with the esteemed presence of Goa’s Hon’ble Chief Minister, Dr. Pramod Sawant. Among the dignitaries attending were Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director General of the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad; Dr. Milind Kamble, Chairman of the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DICCI) and 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, Incharge of the Department of Government Projects at EDII.
The establishment of the Centre marks the commencement of the ‘Goa Udyamita Yojana’, with EDII serving as the implementation agency, and the Goa CSR Authority and EDC Limited, Goa, as the nodal agencies. The scheme is designed to fortify Goa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by leveraging human capital and local resources, thereby stimulating the establishment of new enterprises and fostering the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
In his inaugural address, Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant highlighted Goa’s proactive stance in fostering entrepreneurship, citing the state’s early adoption of the Startup Policy 2017. He emphasized the diversification of sectors beyond tourism and underscored Goa’s commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial ventures across emerging domains. Dr. Sawant acknowledged the support extended by the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendra Patel, in establishing the Goa Centre of EDII, showcasing inter-state collaboration.
Expressing appreciation for the opportunity, Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director General of EDII, outlined the institute’s comprehensive approach encompassing training, research, mentoring, and incubation to catalyze entrepreneurship in Goa. Dr. Milind Kamble, Founder Chairman of DICCI & Board Member-EDII, lauded Goa’s conducive environment for entrepreneurial endeavors and envisioned the Goa Centre as a catalyst for nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit, particularly among the youth.
Shri B. S. Pai Angle, Managing Director of EDC Limited, expressed satisfaction in the collaborative efforts aimed at bolstering Goa’s entrepreneurial landscape. He reaffirmed EDC Limited’s commitment to fostering economic prosperity and sustainability in tandem with the Goa Regional Centre.
The inaugural event concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Dr. Amit Dwivedi, in charge of the Department of Government Projects at EDII, acknowledging the collective endeavor towards unlocking Goa’s entrepreneurial potential.