Sixty-eight participants from 17 countries have completed entrepreneurship training at the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) in Ahmedabad, following two programmes held under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

The programmes, which ended on Tuesday, focused on helping participants understand how small businesses can start, find customers and support local jobs. The training covered informal sector enterprises, business planning, financial management and ways to improve livelihoods in their home countries.

The participants came from countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. Their training took place at a time when many developing economies are seeking ways to expand small businesses and create jobs outside large companies and government services.

The first programme, Informal Sector Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Local Economic Development, had 33 participants, including 19 men and 14 women. They came from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iraq, Mali, Namibia, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

The course examined how local businesses can make better use of available resources and reach more customers. Participants studied ways to improve products, packaging, quality and branding. They also looked at community enterprises, self-help groups and business clusters.

One case study was India’s Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP), which supports small businesses in rural areas.

SVEP is part of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission, run by the Ministry of Rural Development. The programme helps rural families set up non-farm businesses through training, financial support, business advice and links with banks.

According to a July 2026 government update, SVEP had supported 4.32 lakh rural enterprises across India by June 30, 2026. The programme has also focused on helping people from disadvantaged communities take up business activities.

The second course, Entrepreneurship Development and Skill Upgradation, had 35 participants, including 15 men and 20 women. They came from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Iraq, Liberia, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Seychelles, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

The two-week programme covered business opportunity identification, market research, feasibility studies, business plans, project costs and financial planning.

Participants also studied digital marketing, customer acquisition, product pricing and business viability. Practical sessions included preparing a Business Model Canvas, meeting start-up representatives, visiting industries and business units, taking part in decision-making exercises and preparing individual action plans.

The training addressed a common problem faced by small business owners. A person may have a useful product or service, but starting a business requires more than an idea. The owner must understand who will buy the product, how much customers will pay and whether the business can cover its costs.

Dr Sunil Shukla, Director General of EDII, said:

“Entrepreneurship development requires both the ability to identify opportunities within local economies and the skills to translate those opportunities into viable enterprises. Through these programmes, participants gain practical insights into market assessment, value-chain development, business planning and financial management. The learning can help them explore context-specific approaches to enterprise development and sustainable livelihoods in their respective countries.”

EDII has worked with the Ministry of External Affairs under the ITEC programme since 2000-01. The institute has conducted training for international participants seeking to improve their knowledge of entrepreneurship and business development.

The ITEC programme itself has a longer history. The Ministry of External Affairs started it in 1964 as a way to share India’s technical and development experience with other countries. It covers areas such as agriculture, banking, health, education, technology and rural development.

The programme has grown over the years. Information published by the Ministry of External Affairs states that ITEC has trained more than 200,000 officials from over 160 countries. It offers courses through Indian institutions, with the aim of helping partner countries improve skills in areas linked to public services and economic development.

Entrepreneurship training forms part of this wider effort. Small businesses can provide work for people who may not find jobs in large firms. They can also help local communities earn money through activities such as food processing, crafts, retail, repair services and other forms of trade.

The informal sector is a key part of this discussion. Many people in developing countries earn their living through small businesses that operate outside the formal business system. Such enterprises often face problems with access to credit, training, technology and larger markets.

Training programmes can help business owners understand these problems and plan their next steps. However, starting and running a successful enterprise also depends on local conditions, including customer demand, access to finance, transport, business rules and the cost of supplies.

For the 68 participants who completed the Ahmedabad courses, the next step will be to apply what they learnt in their own countries. The two programmes offered examples of how business planning, market research and local support systems can help people start or improve small enterprises.

The training also brought together participants from countries with different economic and social conditions. This allowed them to learn from India’s experience and discuss how similar methods could work in their own communities.

The programmes ended on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, with participants completing their training at EDII in Ahmedabad. Their work now moves beyond the classroom, where the value of the training will depend on how well they can use the lessons to build businesses and support livelihoods at home.

Ahmedabad, October 28, 2026: Sixty-eight participants from 17 countries have completed entrepreneurship training at the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) in Ahmedabad, following two programmes held under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

The programmes, which ended on Tuesday, focused on helping participants understand how small businesses can start, find customers and support local jobs. The training covered informal sector enterprises, business planning, financial management and ways to improve livelihoods in their home countries.

The participants came from countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. Their training took place at a time when many developing economies are seeking ways to expand small businesses and create jobs outside large companies and government services.

The first programme, Informal Sector Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Local Economic Development, had 33 participants, including 19 men and 14 women. They came from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iraq, Mali, Namibia, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

The course examined how local businesses can make better use of available resources and reach more customers. Participants studied ways to improve products, packaging, quality and branding. They also looked at community enterprises, self-help groups and business clusters.

One case study was India’s Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP), which supports small businesses in rural areas.

SVEP is part of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission, run by the Ministry of Rural Development. The programme helps rural families set up non-farm businesses through training, financial support, business advice and links with banks.

According to a July 2026 government update, SVEP had supported 4.32 lakh rural enterprises across India by June 30, 2026. The programme has also focused on helping people from disadvantaged communities take up business activities.

The second course, Entrepreneurship Development and Skill Upgradation, had 35 participants, including 15 men and 20 women. They came from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Iraq, Liberia, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Seychelles, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

The two-week programme covered business opportunity identification, market research, feasibility studies, business plans, project costs and financial planning.

Participants also studied digital marketing, customer acquisition, product pricing and business viability. Practical sessions included preparing a Business Model Canvas, meeting start-up representatives, visiting industries and business units, taking part in decision-making exercises and preparing individual action plans.

The training addressed a common problem faced by small business owners. A person may have a useful product or service, but starting a business requires more than an idea. The owner must understand who will buy the product, how much customers will pay and whether the business can cover its costs.

Dr Sunil Shukla, Director General of EDII, said:

“Entrepreneurship development requires both the ability to identify opportunities within local economies and the skills to translate those opportunities into viable enterprises. Through these programmes, participants gain practical insights into market assessment, value-chain development, business planning and financial management. The learning can help them explore context-specific approaches to enterprise development and sustainable livelihoods in their respective countries.”

EDII has worked with the Ministry of External Affairs under the ITEC programme since 2000-01. The institute has conducted training for international participants seeking to improve their knowledge of entrepreneurship and business development.

The ITEC programme itself has a longer history. The Ministry of External Affairs started it in 1964 as a way to share India’s technical and development experience with other countries. It covers areas such as agriculture, banking, health, education, technology and rural development.

The programme has grown over the years. Information published by the Ministry of External Affairs states that ITEC has trained more than 200,000 officials from over 160 countries. It offers courses through Indian institutions, with the aim of helping partner countries improve skills in areas linked to public services and economic development.

Entrepreneurship training forms part of this wider effort. Small businesses can provide work for people who may not find jobs in large firms. They can also help local communities earn money through activities such as food processing, crafts, retail, repair services and other forms of trade.

The informal sector is a key part of this discussion. Many people in developing countries earn their living through small businesses that operate outside the formal business system. Such enterprises often face problems with access to credit, training, technology and larger markets.

Training programmes can help business owners understand these problems and plan their next steps. However, starting and running a successful enterprise also depends on local conditions, including customer demand, access to finance, transport, business rules and the cost of supplies.

For the 68 participants who completed the Ahmedabad courses, the next step will be to apply what they learnt in their own countries. The two programmes offered examples of how business planning, market research and local support systems can help people start or improve small enterprises.

The training also brought together participants from countries with different economic and social conditions. This allowed them to learn from India’s experience and discuss how similar methods could work in their own communities.

The programmes ended on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, with participants completing their training at EDII in Ahmedabad. Their work now moves beyond the classroom, where the value of the training will depend on how well they can use the lessons to build businesses and support livelihoods at home.

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