VIT trains 17 African youth

VELLORE: After the conclusion of the three-month-long training on entrepreneurial skill development and capacity building, at the VIT University, 17 youth from African countries who participated in the programme are returning home with the confidence that they can translate this knowledge into productive application. The youth are from Mano River Union (MRU) countries comprising Ivory Coast, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in Western Africa. Seven resource persons from MRU countries had also participated.The training is part of the Youth Entrepreneurship Initiative under the aegis of the Indian Centre for South-South Industrial Cooperation (USSIC) attached to the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in collaboration with VIT Technology Business Incubator (VITTBI).A Balachandran, general manager of VITTBI said, the training focussed on food processing, information technology applications, software development, energy and water business. “The main thrust was on motivating them to generate ideas, map opportunities, marketing, finance and human resource management, business planning, development of communication skills. The training had facilitated the trainees to connect with business groups here to help them keep India as a resource base.” Acting director of the USSIC-India, Krishna P Lal, expressed hope that the youth would be able to set up business enterprises in their respective countries and generate high income to help their regions alleviate poverty. It would also motivate other youngsters in their countries to emulate them. VIT Chancellor G Viswanathan, pointed out that the youth should explore the possibilities of business ventures by utilising wealth available in their countries.