UT startup policy: Roundtable discussion held

Chandigarh, February 11, 2022: The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) in association with the Chandigarh UT Administration organized a roundtable panel discussion on “Start-up Policy for Chandigarh & Industry Meet 2022” at MC conference hall, Sector 17 Chandigarh.

The event was graced by Hargunjit Kaur, IAS Secretary, Finance & Industries Chandigarh (UT) Administration, who was the chief guest and Guest of Honor, Shalini Chetal, HCS Director Industries, Chandigarh (UT) Administration.

Simarpreet Singh, ASSOCHAM Chandigarh UT Development Council & Director Hartek Group said, “Startups are one of the most crucial components in the coming up of ‘New India’. Entrepreneurs and problem solvers are the key ingredients to making the economy grow. The startup policy for UT Chandigarh will help in further creating more opportunities and making Chandigarh the 'Startup Hub' of North India.”

Notably, Chandigarh UT Administration had released a startup policy in 2017 with the vision to create a world-class ecosystem for startups in the city. The startup ecosystem of the Union Territory (UT) is focused in the field of Information Technology (IT) and would be fostered through strategic investments, policy interventions and leveraging the entrepreneurial spirit in existing educational infrastructure of the city. The Chandigarh Administration is keen on strengthening and empowering the start-up ecosystem. The UT intends to prioritize actions required in three broad categories: short, medium and long term that will empower and the efforts and virtuosity of young startups in Chandigarh.

Vivek Atray, Chairman, ASSOCHAM North Region Council on Policy Advocacy said, “More such talks and discussions on startups are required to create a conducive environment to set up a startup culture in the city.  I feel at times founders of startups lack family support which needs to change. Besides favorable startup policies, young successful entrepreneurs and officials from the UT administration should come forward to build a robust startup ecosystem in Chandigarh."

Delivering the keynote address, Hargunjit Kaur, IAS, Secretary, Finance & Industries, Chandigarh (UT) Administration said, “The ecosystem for the startup needs to be created from scratch. Those startups, which have done well so far, have done it of their own will without any robust ecosystem and contributions of Chandigarh Administration. In order to build that ‘startup ecosystem’ in the city, I would invite you all to share your own ideas and views so that the administration can help scaling up the startup culture.”

Drismeet Buttar, Co-Chairman, ASSOCHAM Chandigarh(UT)  Development Council said, "ASSOCHAM intends to provide in association with the government, a fully equipped platform that offers financing, co-working infrastructure highly equipped with the latest technology, on a single platform to create an impeccable knowledge and idea hub, and most importantly, the mentoring team."

A session 'Young Entrepreneurs & Startups' was also held by Jitin Talwar, Co-Founder, TT Consultants; Seshadri Vangala, Chairman & Group CEO, IFIN Global Group; Ankush Sabharwal, Founder & CEO, CoRover Pvt Ltd and Neil Kevin Martis, Co-Founder & Project Lead, LegitDoc, Mandeep Kaur Tangra Founder & CEO, SimbaQuartz & Nikhil Mohindra, Director, LivRite Global Creations Pvt Ltd.