SRINAGAR: The Atal Incubation Centre (AIC-IIIM), Srinagar, has launched a month-long Skill Development Training Programme in Leather Technology to equip aspiring candidates with practical, industry-oriented skills and encourage entrepreneurship in the leather sector.
The programme is being jointly organised by the AIC-IIIM Bioinnovation Foundation and Kashmir Government Polytechnic College, Srinagar, with around 14 candidates participating.
Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM Jammu and Chairman of the AIC-IIIM Bioinnovation Foundation, inaugurated the programme and interacted with the trainees. He emphasised that skill development initiatives should go beyond technical training to create opportunities for sustainable livelihoods and entrepreneurship.
Encouraging participants to make the most of the programme, Dr Ahmed said AIC-IIIM would provide support and guidance to candidates interested in establishing their own entrepreneurial units. He highlighted the centre’s role in nurturing aspiring entrepreneurs through incubation facilities, technical guidance, mentorship, infrastructure and industry linkages.
The month-long training will provide hands-on exposure to leather processing, product development, manufacturing techniques and related processes. It will also familiarise participants with potential business opportunities, helping them translate their skills into viable self-employment ventures.
Dr Shafquat Ara, Principal of Kashmir Government Polytechnic College, Srinagar, stressed the importance of institutional collaboration in strengthening technical education and skill development. She highlighted ongoing and proposed collaborations between the college and AIC-IIIM to expand practical exposure, industry-oriented training and support for entrepreneurial initiatives.
Dr Shahid Jibran, Chief Executive Officer of the AIC-IIIM Bioinnovation Foundation, outlined the programme’s objectives and the centre’s efforts to promote skill-based entrepreneurship. He also highlighted the scope for further collaboration to expand training opportunities and encourage small-scale leather-based enterprises in the region.
The initiative forms part of AIC-IIIM’s broader efforts to bridge the gap between technical education, practical skills and enterprise creation. Through continued institutional support and entrepreneurial guidance, the programme aims to help participants establish sustainable ventures in Jammu and Kashmir.
