‘Entrepreneurs will be encouraged’

Kerala has to be transformed into an entrepreneurial community to achieve desired goals on the path of development, said Shaffi Mather, Economic Advisor to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

He was speaking at an interactive session on Union budget 2013, organised by the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), here on Saturday.

He said that the government is taking all steps to encourage entrepreneurship in the state.

Terming this year’s Union budget as ‘prudent and responsible’, he said: “Apart from the directly allotted funds to various public sector companies and boards, the state will also benefit from other schemes announced by the Finance Minister.

“Kerala is well positioned to get funds from the skill Development programme as we have already started a student entrepreneurship programme. Initiatives like startup village, student entrepreneurship programme, seed fund for startups and Kerala Angel Network will enable the state to become an entrepreneurial community,” he said.

Mentioning about the model of development in Gujarat, he said in that state there is no right to oppose, whereas Kerala provides it.

Speaking on the occasion, Venugopal C Govind, managing partner, Varma and Varma Chartered Accountants, said that the Finance Minister should have given more thrust to the SME sector as the segment represents about 92 per cent of the total industries in the country.