The Incubation and Enterprise Support Centre (IESC) under the aegis of IIM Shillong today signed a MoU with FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO).
The agreement was inked with an objective to provide a nurturing, instructive and supportive environment for entrepreneurs during the critical stages of starting up a new business, and increasing the chance for a start-up to succeed, shorten the time and reduce the cost of establishing and growing its business.
Prof Sanjeeb Kakoty, Chairperson of IESC on behalf of IIM Shillong and Jahnabi Phookan, National President of FICCI FLO signed the MoU in presence of Shishir Kumar Bajoria, Chairman, Board of Governors (BoG), IIM Shillong, Atul Kulkarni, Member, BoG, IIM Shillong, Prof. D. P. Goyal, Director, IIM Shillong.
Speaking about the work of FLO and its alignment with Sustainable Development Goals, Phookan elaborated that FLO’s vision under her presidency is to focus on ensuring sustainable practices and creating sustainable livelihoods for the economic empowerment of women towards becoming sufficient job creators than just mere job seekers.
Stressing on the importance of women, particularly those in the North East, in safeguarding the rich culture and traditions of the people, Prof Sanjeeb Kakoty felt that women were also very much responsible for keeping alive the entrepreneurial nature and spirit emanating from the region. “Therefore if transformation is to be witnessed in this part of the region it has to be women-led,” he remarked while expressing hope in the impact that the MoU and the mandated work can help achieve.
Chairman of the BoG, IIM Shillong expressed his confidence on the signing of agreement and felt that the initiative could be a defining moment in impacting firstly the region and then beyond, in line with the responsibility bestowed on this premier institute of national importance in the region. “An Atmanirbhar Mahila can ensure an Atmanirbhar Bharat,” he concluded.
Prof Goyal pointed that the MoU was very much in line with the mission of the institute to generate and disseminate knowledge in all aspects of management education for sustainable development and to develop innovative leaders with strong ethical values where one of the prime goal is to enhance skills, competencies, and decision taking abilities for practicing management professionals through continued education.
Sharing his thought on more than three decades of experience in the region, Kulkarni said, “The north east that we have been seeing for the past very few years is its new self.” He further shared on the recent initiatives of the Institute in understanding some of the key sectors of NER and was happy that the MoU could now serve as a catalyst to ascertain quicker growth results through well planned intervention, particularly for the women folk of the region.
