Awantipora, August 5: The Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) today inaugurated the MSME Business Incubator at its Innovation Campus, to further boost the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem of Hammy and Kashmir. The Incubator has been sanctioned under the MSME Innovative Scheme of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India.
The Incubator was inaugurated by Prof. Sheikh Ajaz Bashir, Dean Academic Affairs, IUST, and Shri A. K. Tamaria, IEDS, Joint Director & Head of Office, MSME Development and Facilitation Office, Jammu, in the presence of Shri Saheel Alaqband, IEDS, Assistant Director, MSME DFO Srinagar, Prof. Parvez A. Mir, CEO, CIED-IUST Foundation, Mr. Sameer Wazir, Finance Officer, IUST, coordinators and members of the CIED-IUST Foundation, faculty members, and a large gathering of students from IUST and Government Polytechnic College.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Sheikh Ajaz Bashir congratulated the CIED-IUST Foundation on its remarkable growth and described students as the “growth engines” of the University. Encouraging them to aspire high and embrace entrepreneurship as a promising career pathway, he urged students to cultivate curiosity by constantly asking whyand how, identify problems encountered in everyday life, and work towards developing innovative solutions. He observed that such a problem-solving mindset is essential for building an entrepreneurial culture and appreciated the Foundation’s vision in creating opportunities for young innovators.
Welcoming the distinguished guests, Prof. Parvez A. Mir highlighted the vision of the CIED-IUST Foundation to build a vibrant innovation ecosystem through strategic partnerships, incubation support and entrepreneurial capacity building. He noted that the establishment of the MSME Business Incubator represents another important milestone in the Foundation’s mission to empower innovators, strengthen the startup ecosystem and contribute to the socio-economic development of the region.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri A. K. Tamaria said that the primary objective of the Ministry of MSME is to create entrepreneurs and appreciated the role being played by the CIED-IUST Foundation in nurturing innovation-driven enterprises. He highlighted the Ministry’s sustained efforts to promote entrepreneurship through incubation support and encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to take advantage of the wide range of opportunities, financial assistance and mentoring available under various MSME schemes.
Shri Saheel Alaqband underscored the importance of the MSME Business Incubator in transforming innovative ideas into successful business ventures. He assured continued support from the MSME Development and Facilitation Office to startups and entrepreneurs across the region and emphasized the need for stronger institutional partnerships to promote innovation-led economic growth.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. Shameem Iqbal, Manager, CIED-IUST Foundation. The proceedings of the program were coordinated by Mr. Syed Abdul Basit, Assistant Manager, CIED-IUST Foundation.
