By Syed Mohammad Burhan | Kashmir Observer
Srinagar- The three-day ‘Kashmir Expo Start-ups for Livelihood’ event which is set to begin on Wednesday is expected to boost self-start culture in Kashmir, Experts say.
Kashmir Expo is set to welcome youth with innovation in various fields who will come to display their products, technology, and services. About 55 start-ups from across India are participating in this start-up exhibition being organized at SKICC.
Experts say, the presence of a large number of students will help boost the culture of startups in Kashmir.
Dr Anita Gupta Head (Innovation and Entrepreneurship) at Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India said that Startups are driven by young talented minds and in Jammu and Kashmir the government is initiating many programmes which will help boost startup culture in Kashmir.
“Kashmir Expo Startup is one of a kind event where startups will be showcased. We have planned participation from University of Kashmir, National Institute Of Technology and other institutes where all stakeholders will be present and the ecosystem will be energized for startups” Dr Anita said.
She further said that JK is a promising place and has a lot of potential to nurture startups.
“We are targeting a very good number of people and this event will fuel new activities and new enthusiasm for startups to germinate here. We hope school students will also be able to get inspired by new innovations which are driven by startups” Dr Anita added.
Dr Vipin Kumar, Director, National Innovation Foundation India said the event will provide an opportunity for people to see that even ordinary people have ideas to initiate a startup and it will help boost startup culture in Kashmir.
“Our startup program is moving towards inclusivity. Innovators and startups are not confined to big cities of India. People from far off places are taking part and being part of the change,” Dr Vipin said.
“People have solutions to persistent problems and students are coming up with ideas and problem solving solutions. We have invited a lot of students, they can be job providers instead of job seekers”
Dr Vipin expressed hope that with an event of such magnitude more and more innovators will come from Jammu and Kashmir and it will become the innovation hub of India.
It is pertinent to mention, The Kashmir Expo Start-up For Livelihood is being organized under the aegis of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre, Srinagar in association with National Innovation Foundation-India.