Photo Courtesy: nenow
Gangtok: Sikkim is betting big on local business. The state government inked a 36-month deal with IIM Calcutta Innovation Park on September 27 to jumpstart the local economy. The plan targets support for 250 startups and enterprises. Gangtok hosted the signing ceremony at Manan Kendra. Commerce and Industries Secretary Karma D. Youtso and IIMCIP Chief Business Officer Gaurav Kapoor finalized the agreement as Special Secretary-cum-Director Choden Gyatso looked on.
The partnership creates a hub-and-spoke model. The Sikkim Innovation Hub in the capital acts as the core. Four new district-level incubation centers will expand that reach. Existing facilities at ATTC in Bardang and CCCT in Chisopani join the network. They want to move fast. The goal is to generate over 1,000 direct and indirect jobs while ensuring 40 percent of these businesses are led by women.
IIMCIP acts as the Lead Incubation Partner. They bring experience from supporting over 2,000 startups and seed-funding 152 ventures. Their portfolio companies have raised more than Rs 2,000 crore. According to the organization, this work includes help with "developing and validating ideas to incubation, market access, investment and scaling up."
District centers will scout local talent through ideathons, bootcamps, and workshops. Mentors will assist founders with branding, financial planning, and regulatory compliance. The state also intends to launch Entrepreneurship Promotion Cells within higher education institutions. Officials aim to connect local innovators to national markets and investors. This effort serves as a primary push to implement the Sikkim Startup Policy 2025.
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