Business ideas: Young aspirants discuss entrepreneurship

Students say end to red-tapism and strong institutional mechanisms vital for growth

ISLAMABAD: The Young Entrepreneurs Forum (YEF) of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Saturday held a session for aspiring entrepreneurs in connection with the Global Entrepreneurship Week.

The event was organised in collaboration with the Centre for International Enterprise (CIPE) and Kauffman.

Students of Bahria, Air, COMSATS, Quaid-e-Azam, Virtual and Iqra universities attended the session.

ICCI Acting President M Shakeel Munir said the youth should prefer to become job creators instead of job seekers as Pakistan was a huge market of consumers.

YEF Chairman Shaban Khalid also highlighted the forum’s role in promoting entrepreneurial culture in the country. He said there were vast opportunities of young entrepreneurs in the country.

He also asked the youth to come up with creative ideas in fight against corruption and other social evils.

The students came up with many recommendations to overcome corruption, which is hampering entrepreneurship. They called for developing proper SOPs and their implementation in public sector organisations, which will help in reducing corruption.

They also suggested ending red-tapism in the bureaucracy, developing transparent procedures, strong institutional mechanisms, promoting better linkages between universities and industries, and practical application of theoretical knowledge taught at universities.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2014.