The Centre’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU aims to foster collaboration, mentorship, and support for startups in the region. The signing took place during “Jammu Kashmir Konnect,” a special startup-focused programme organized at JKEDI’s Baribrahamna campus.
Startups, incubators, and key stakeholders gathered to discuss innovation and growth opportunities. The MoU between DPIIT and JKEDI paves the way for greater branding, outreach, and accessibility to Startup India’s ecosystem. It fosters mentorship, knowledge exchange, and infrastructure support.
The MoU also focuses on market linkages, funding networks, and international expansion opportunities. This aligns with India’s vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Boosting startup culture in J&K
During the programme, the Directors of DPIIT and JKEDI held one-on-one interactions with all incubators. They discussed their challenges and needs. The session provided a unique platform for incubators to share insights, suggest improvements, and seek policy-level support for enhancing the startup ecosystem.
JKEDI Director Rajinder Kumar Sharma highlighted the impact of the J&K Startup Policy, launched in March 2024. The policy has led to more than 250 new startup registrations on the DPIIT portal in a short span, bringing the total to 988. Sharma also emphasized the significant outreach efforts undertaken by JKEDI.
During the current financial year, the institute has successfully conducted 601 Entrepreneurship Awareness Programmes across universities, colleges, higher secondary schools, and IITs in 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir. This strategic collaboration is expected to significantly boost the startup culture in Jammu & Kashmir. It provides much-needed support and resources to budding entrepreneurs in the region.
