Odisha Celebrates Entrepreneurs; Minister Felicitates Innovators at World Skill Center

Bhubaneswar: In a strong push to promote entrepreneurship and job creation, Sampad Chandra Swain, Minister for Skill Development & Technical Education, today felicitated successful entrepreneurs at a special programme organized at the World Skill Center (WSC), Bhubaneswar.

The event showcased inspiring stories of young innovators who have turned their skills into enterprises, making significant contributions to Odisha’s socio-economic growth.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said, “Odisha has placed strong emphasis on skill development and entrepreneurship as twin pillars of socio-economic transformation. While skill development empowers our youth with employable capabilities, entrepreneurship enables them to become job creators. Both are central to building a Viksit and Samrudha Odisha.”

Highlighting the impact of the Entrepreneurship Development Programme at the World Skill Center, the Minister informed that more than 10,000 entrepreneurs have been nurtured so far, 70% of whom are women. Over 1,000 enterprises have already been established with structured mentorship, credit support, and market facilitation.

Adding further momentum to the startup ecosystem, the Minister extended seed funding support of ₹1 lakh each to selected beneficiaries under the Nano Unicorn Scheme, encouraging them to expand their ventures.

The programme also witnessed the launch of a Coffee Table Book, documenting 100 inspiring entrepreneurial stories from across Odisha, offering a glimpse into the diverse and resilient spirit of the state’s youth.