ISB push for agri-business venture

If you are a young entrepreneur and wish to carve a niche in agri-business for yourself, here is an opportunity.

The Indian School of Business (ISB), in association with National Agri - Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI), Mohali will be offering an opportunity to set up a venture in agricultural manufacturing.

“We have teamed up with NABI to promote an economically viable manufacturing venture based on a technology to extract proteins from cotton seeds and produce protein supplements,’’ Krishna Tanuku, Executive Director, Wadhwani Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, ISB told Business Line .

The technology feasibility study with NABI has already been done. The modalities of investments required and viability aspects are being worked out.

The business school would go to town after it arrives at a final blueprint probably by August. “Then, we will have to scout for entrepreneurs. ISB will help in validation of technology and making it viable,’’ he added.

One of the project’s objectives is to promote entrepreneurship in manufacturing.

When it comes to entrepreneurship, IT and ITeS sector is attracting many youngsters while manufacturing virtually has no takers.

For instance, out of 25 ventures started by ISB graduates in last three years, over 50 per cent of them are directly or indirectly linked to IT.

“But if we need to create jobs and push economic growth, we also need the manufacturing sector to grow,’’ he said.

Efforts are also on to encourage manufacturing-related venture in water treatment and sanitation products, he added.

>naga.gunturi@thehindu.co.in

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