SHILLONG: International development consulting company IPE Global, Managed Services Operating Partner (MSOP) for Meghalaya State Skill Development Society (MSSDS) under Supporting Human Capital Development in Meghalaya (SHCDM) is all set to launch their online webinar series for small businesses and potential entrepreneurs in the state. The programme is supported by the Asian Development Bank.
It aims to discuss, identify and plan the action to mitigate the challenges and support the prospective entrepreneur and small businesses during the time of COVID-19.
The first theme “Becoming an entrepreneur in the time of COVID-19: Prospects and challenge” of webinar series will take place on Friday from 3 pm to 4.30 pm and startups and entrepreneurs are encouraged to participate free of charge. It will be inaugurated by DP Wahlang, Principal Secretary, Department of Labour.
Responding to the importance of such kind of webinar, Wahlang said, “For business professionals and youths, now is the time to be proactive and assess what opportunities and markets are best for and to focus on”. Wahlang further added that while we are all working from home, it is important to contribute using technology.
“The pandemic has presented small business sector and entrepreneurs with huge challenges. This webinar series is a humble effort to equip them with tools and best practices to meet these challenges,” he said.
Amidst such testing times, due to the outbreak of COVID-19, although there have been restrictions on physical mobility, public gathering and closing of the office, the MSOP team has identified alternative strategies to ensure effective implementation of the project.
The project has now become IT-focused to minimise the loss of time and utilise resources efficiently to create value. Ashwajit Singh, managing director, IPE Global, emphasised on the rapid change taking place as a result of the pandemic.
“We need to appreciate and understand that ways of working and business would change forever. There will be a need to adapt to these changes and look at new opportunities and enhance skills,” he said.
The MSOP entrepreneurship webinar series has lined up local and global resource persons that include Ayesha Naseem, founder & CEO- LiveWire (Dubai, UAE), Rahul Tejwani, co-founder of Kredis and Green Chutney Films (Ahmedabad, India), Shiela Kharpomtiah, project executive – iLEAD (Shillong, India), Thembelihle Sithole, business analyst – ThoughtWorks (London, UK), Kynjai Rupa, MSOP entrepreneur (Shillong, India).
The prospective webinar series is getting an incredible response from Meghalaya entrepreneurs as over 50 interested people have registered so far.
During the lockdown period, district teams of the MSOP have engaged in intensive communication with the potential entrepreneurs and major stakeholders through phone calls and video calls to provide support on inception, operation, upscale and sustainability through the entrepreneurship development activities.
