Empowering Youth, Enabling Enterprises: JKTPO, JKEDI launch ESDP in Samba under RAMP
May 06, 2025
SAMBA: In a significant move to promote entrepreneurship and skill development across the Union Territory, the Managing Director Jammu and Kashmir Trade Promotion Organization (JKTPO) Sudershan Kumar, along with Director Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI), Khalid Jahangir, today formally inaugurated the first Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme (ESDP) under the World Bank-funded RAMP (Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance) initiative at JKEDI in Samba district.
The Entrepreneurship Skill Development Program (ESDP) under the RAMP initiative has commenced on 5th May 2025 in the districts of Ramban, Reasi, Samba, Udhampur, Anantnag, Bandipora, Budgam, Kulgam, Kupwara, and Shopian. In the rest of the districts, the ESDP will be rolled out from 13th May 2025.
This programme is a part of a broader initiative being implemented across all districts of Jammu and Kashmir, with the objective of nurturing entrepreneurial spirit among the youth and providing them with tools to establish and manage sustainable business ventures.
While addressing the participants, MD JKTPO, Sudershan Kumar extended his gratitude to JKEDI for successfully completing the first batch of the Management Development Programme (MDP) and initiating the ESDP simultaneously in all districts of J&K. He encouraged the aspiring entrepreneurs to become job providers and play a proactive role in making Jammu and Kashmir a thriving hub of entrepreneurship and innovation.
Director JKEDI, Khalid Jahangir, provided an overview of the ESDP and highlighted the institute's pivotal role in promoting self-employment and building a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region. He reaffirmed JKEDI's commitment to empowering local youth through capacity-building initiatives and encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to seize opportunities, offer innovative solutions, and adopt advanced technologies in their entrepreneurial endeavors.
The ESDP Batch-1 at the JKEDI Samba Centre has commenced with 35 participants, including students from ITI Samba, Polytechnic College Samba, and Government Degree College (Commerce), Samba, with 12 female candidates. Under the RAMP initiative, a total budget of ₹1.5 crore has been allocated for 108 ESDP training programs, aiming to reach 3,240 beneficiaries across Jammu and Kashmir. Each training program is designed to build foundational business skills and entrepreneurial capacity. The four-week training includes modules on enterprise management, marketing strategies, business simulations, market surveys, and field visits, equipping participants with practical knowledge and entrepreneurial competencies to launch and sustain their own businesses. JKEDI is the implementing agency for both ESDP and MDP in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) programme is a World Bank-supported initiative aimed at improving the performance of the MSME sector across India.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the RAMP programme is being implemented under the leadership of MD JKTPO, Sudarshan Kumar and overall supervision of the Industries and Commerce Department, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. The programme focuses on strengthening institutions, enhancing market access, reducing regulatory burden, and facilitating financial access for MSMEs.
The inauguration of the ESDP at Samba signifies a milestone in the RAMP journey in J&K, as it seeks to empower youth, enhance employment opportunities, and build a robust foundation for inclusive economic growth in the region.
