National Entrepreneurship Awards 2018, aimed at recognizing and honoring outstanding young first-generation entrepreneurs and those who have contributed immensely in building the entrepreneurship ecosystem, were presented by the Minister of Commerce and Industry & Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu and the Minister of state for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Ananthkumar Hegde.
In this third edition of National Entrepreneurship Awards, this year, a total of 43 awards were presented, including 39 awards for Young Entrepreneurs in different sectors and 4 awards for Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Builders. The winners received a trophy, certificate and cash prizes ranging from Rs. 5 to 10 lakhs. The awards are classified into three investment categories- below Rs 1 Lakh, between Rs 1 Lakh to10 Lakhs and betweenRs10 Lakhs to Rs1 Crore- covering small to big first-generation entrepreneurs below the age of 40 years. This is to ensure that entrepreneurs from every socio-economic category take part in the award and they are duly recognised for their meaningful contribution to the economy of the nation.
Speaking on the occasion, Suresh Prabhu said that there has been changes world-wide, as people are moving away from the fixed income jobs to entrepreneurial activities. In India also, big opportunities are knocking and people should take advantage of it. He said that gone are the days, when licenses, permissions and big-money were required for building an enterprise. All one need is an Idea, which can be converted into an enterprise, and one has to live with it, believe in it and it will flourish.
