Mr. Rajiv Takru, Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Mr. R. M. Malla, President, EDI and Chairman, IDBI was also present on the occasion.
Addressing the passing-out graduates, Mr Takru complimented EDI for conducting specialized management programmes. He, however, maintained that institutions impart technical degrees but the real lessons are learnt only in the outside world. “So in order to succeed, you need to possess some qualities besides your technical skills and degrees,” he said, asking students to “be different, think-out-of-the-box, and allow the mind play free.”
He advised the students not to take shortcuts to success and adhere to integrity and honesty throughout their career.
During the convocation ceremony, as many as 95 students received diplomas – 87 in ‘Post-Graduate Diploma in Management – Business Entrepreneurship’ (12 in Agri. Entrepreneurship, 21 in Family Business Management, 31 in New Enterprise Creation and 23 students in Services Management) and 8 in ‘Post-Graduate Diploma in Management – Development Studies’ (2 in Micro Finance & Financial Inclusion and 6 in Micro Enterprise Development).
Speaking on the progress and future projects of the institute, Dr. Dinesh Awasthi, Director, EDI, said the institute has been roped in by the External Affairs Ministry for setting up Centres in five African countries of Senegal, Gabon, Rwanda, Namibia and Zambia, besides Uzbekistan.
He said that the Institute would also be introducing more academic courses on ‘Social Entrepreneurship and Business Entrepreneurship’, ‘SME Banking & Financial Services’ and ‘Development Sector Management’ to reach out even more widely to those who look forward to building businesses in new and emerging areas. Dr. Awasthi also talked about EDI’s focus on initiating a unique Agri-Entrepreneurship Programme and using the cluster revitalization experience in stabilizing many more dormant artisanal and industrial clusters.
Mr R. M. Malla, President, EDI and Chairman, IDBI Bank Ltd, emphasized on the growing significance of entrepreneurship and highlighted the achievements of EDI over the past year. Mr. Malla stated that IDBI’s association with EDI came out of a strong sense of commitment and taking it further, IDBI has decided to give collateral free loans upto Rupees one crore to deserving projects of EDI students. He urged the students to work hard and seize this opportunity and surge ahead.
Advising the outgoing students, Mr Malla said that they must anticipate the market changes and exploit these to their benefit. He concluded by extending his congratulations to EDI for its diversification plans in terms of activities and infrastructure.
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