PRIME Meghalaya is providing a bright and promising start to 2024 with a first of its kind Entrepreneur Expo happening at SRGT Polo Ground. The Expo is of three days from the 7th till the 9th of February 2024, open from 9:30 AM onwards.
PRIME (Promotion and Incubation of Market-driven Enterprises) inaugurated on 21st January 2020 is an entrepreneurship focused program aimed at providing targeted support to the entrepreneurs of the state. Since its inception PRIME has benefitted more than 5000 individuals in various sectors. However, PRIME understands that entrepreneurship extends far beyond their reach which is why the Meghapreneur Expo brings together various entrepreneurs from different departments and sections throughout Meghalaya.
Before entering the venue the PRIME ARV (Agriculture Response Vehicle) stands outside proudly. The PRIME ARV scheme incoporates various sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, veterinary and animal husbandry, tourism, etc. encompassing the heart of PRIME which is making assistance and support easily accessible to those who need it the most. Upon entering, the venue has been so laid out such that guests can easily access the entrepreneurs and the departments from which they have been supported. The Meghalaya State Skills Development Society, Meghalaya Tourism, Department of Food Processing, Meghalaya State Resource Centre on Disability Affairs, Meghalaya Collectives, 1917 iTeams and the Megha Saras Store, just to name a few, have been actively supporting entrepreneurs of the state. The various entrepreneurs, from the different departments as well as PRIME Cohorts, receive full access to the Expo and all it has to offer such as connecting sellers to buyers and providing technical sessions on areas intimately associated with having and sustaining a healthy business.
The Honourable Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who had spearheaded the formation of PRIME, graced the occasion and shared a few words on the importance of nurturing entrepreneurs of the state. It is the entrepreneurs who would lead the charge for the state to move forward in terms of economic development, and hence the PRIME Meghapreneur Expo is a celebration of the entrepreneurs of the state. He enthusiastically asked everyone to lend their support to our locals for the work and effort put in to their start-ups and businesses. A ceremonial ribbon cutting took place after which the Chief Minister and other dignitaries strolled around the venue interacting with the various entrepreneurs.
The day also saw entrepreneurs attending technical sessions on packaging where the importance of labelling and production was explained to them. It was a comprehensive session that incorporated an exercise to test the entrepreneurs’ skill at labelling and what improvements could be made. The second session of the day was headed by Start-Up India where they talked at length about how a start-up would survive in this day and age. The session was divided into two parts where the first part was a general interaction with all the entrepreneurs while teaching them the basics of financial literacy and business management, while the second session was a one-on-one mentoring of the entrepreneurs where they could air out their doubts.
The gathering of the different entrepreneurs also led to a very organic atmosphere of discussions and engagements. One of the objectives of the large gathering was to have all the entrepreneurs of the state in a single space where they could interact, get to know each other and benefit from one another.
The Expo is a one of a kind opportunity for not only the entrepreneurs of the state but the denizens of Meghalaya as well to get to know and interact with their entrepreneurs. The expectation is for more residents to be bold enough to start ventures of their own.