Entrepreneurship 2012 will guide young entrepreneurs on correct path

The Entrepreneurship 2012 exhibition which will be held at the BMICH from March 15 to 17 will be another step towards accomplishing the objectives of Mahinda Chintana in terms of the advent of the entrepreneurship of youth, states media release by the Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry's Media Unit.

It said, the objective of the exhibition is to introduce the products of our people who are attempting to stand on their own feet.

It's only two present of the students completing their education who get qualified to enter universities to pursue higher studies. About 500,000 students sit the G.C.E. O/L examination while about 300,000 sit the A/L examination. The majority of these students, aspiring to get employed would be able to consider launching upon some business, as a successful option. As such' the commencement of minor enterprises for them ought to be introduced on a very wide scale. There are ten Institutes under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development which could cater to the needs of such students and help them embark upon their own enterprises. Under this arrangement, about 140,000 students get trained thereby enabling them to be successfully employed.

A separate section has been set up under the Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry to promote and foster that segment of students. Under this scheme, such students are given proper guidance, incentives and the required know-how, for them to surmount their problems and poise themselves to a productive career.

One objective of this exhibition is to enable those striving to stand on their own feet, to turn out their products, and also to provide them with a larger market beyond their own vicinity, thereby giving a well-deserved and wide publicity to their products, which in turn would boost their morale and give them a better place in the market.

Parallel to the exhibition, there would be a series of lectures to motivate the youth to venture into this field both in Sinhala and Tamil which would help integrate our social relations. This exhibition would exhibit the products of more than 300 youth entrepreneurs.

There are eight entrepreneurs representing the Northern and Eastern Provinces. They have surmounted the initial problems and have emerged successful in their new venture. Among these entrepreneurs there are several who have obtained their patent rights as well. In Sri Lanka's valiant effort to be the Miracle of Asia, the young entrepreneurs have a major role to play.

This is accepted even in Mahinda Chinthana. When we survey the world scenario in all those countries which have developed economically the young entrepreneurs have played their role remarkably.

Today's small-scale entrepreneur could very well be tomorrow's leading businessman and therefore it is in the fitness of things to give the small-scale entrepreneur all the incentives he requires and bring him to the forefront and make him a formidable force to be reckoned with.

It is an undeniable fact that 25% of our population comprise youth. Therefore we should create an atmosphere conducive to them to create new job opportunities catering to their skills and training.