African students told to start business ventures

VELLORE: “You can be fore-runners to a good push to your country’s growth as well as for good relationship between India and Africa in the long run,” said VIT chancellor G Viswanathan while inaugurating a 12-week Youth Entrepreneurship Skills Development Initiative under the aegis of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) at VIT campus on Wednesday.Viswanathan, terming the initiative as a first of its kind in the country, pointed out that ground work for this had started three years back when UNIDO officials evinced interest. He said, “I am glad that the trend which used to depend on Western countries for providing skill and expertise in entrepreneurship development has shifted to tap Indian talent.” He urged the participants from various African countries to make use of the rich resources and the expertise gained from VIT to start business ventures to benefit locals. “VIT is prepared to help in this regard by making use of the university’s alumni strength in your countries,” he added.  He also appealed to the youngsters to motivate others in their respective countries to expand both the higher education system and the industrial development climate.Speaking on the occasion, Krishna P Lal, acting director of the UCSSIC (India), UNIDO, New Delhi, said the focus of the training was to target sustainable development in the least developed countries in Africa through capacity building by making use of the expertise available from developing countries such as India. The best practices in Indian institutions would be utilised toward African needs and VIT was chosen as a technical partner for providing necessary training in the development of trading and industries. He said that around 12 projects were being implemented by the Delhi Centre to promote agro industries, renewable energy sources, cluster development of industry, etc in African countries. “We want you to go back home with constructive ideas and develop them by making use of the local manpower,” he told the gathering. The 24 nationals are from the Ivory Coast, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in Africa.General manager of VIT-Technology Business Incubator, A Balachander described the training programme and the course details while Dr S K Sekar, Director of VIT Business School which is coordinating the programme welcomed the gathering.