Northeast offers unexplored potential for StartUps: Dr Jitendra

New Delhi, March 28: Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh Tuesday said that the North East Region of India offers unexplored potential for StartUps.
Speaking as a Chief Guest at the 2-day “International Conference on StartUps, Sustainability, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship in North EastIndia”, Dr Jitendra Singh said that North East is inherently a land of innovation.
“Women have always been at the forefront of the Startup culture in the North East and have been taking a leading role in the Startup ecosystem ever since it has been institutionalised by the government”.
The Minister further said that North-east, Startups and women have always been the priority for the Government.
“North east as a region was neglected by the previous governments but now the region has been brought on par with others by Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government”.
Dr Singh said because of the impetus given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the number of StartUps in India has grown to over 90,000 from about 300 to 400 in 8 years from 2014 to 2022 and there are more than 100 Unicorns.
He further added that 36 out of 100 unicorns from India have women as founders or co-founders. Women have shifted from participatory to leadership roles.
Dr Singh mentioned that in the recent past various stakeholders in the Start-up ecosystem such as incubators, accelerators and other venture funds have emerged in the North Eastern Region (NER), leading to a large number of Start-ups.
The Minister said that the Government has taken various important initiatives for the development of the region since 2014-15 and improved connectivity thereby accelerating the development of the region. Non-exempted Central Ministries/Departments required to spend at least 10% of their Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) for Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes in NER.
The Minister mentioned that in the next 25 years of the ‘Amrit Kaal’, the greatest opportunities lie for the North East, the Himalayan region and the ocean based resources.
“In the conference we have many of the young women entrepreneurs coming and presenting their ideas and experiences. Miranda being a women’s college is leading the way. Bridging the Gap is the goal. We in the Government are always present to give a boost to these women entrepreneurs”, he concluded.