Finance Kalon inaugurates ‘Third Tibetan Entrepreneurs’ Game Changers Conference’
By Lobsang Tenchoe
DHARAMSALA, August 30: Tibetan Entrepreneurship Development (TED), an initiative of the Department of Finance of Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) began its third Tibetan Entrepreneurs’ Game Changers Conference today at Nyatri Hall, Central Tibetan Secretariat.
Finance Kalon (Minster) Karma Yeshi inaugurated the two-day conference being held from August 30- 31. Around 70 Tibetan entrepreneurs are attending the conference.
Kalon Karma Yeshi spoke passionately about the heights Tibetans can scale commercially in spite of our small population in the exile diaspora and encouraged Tibetan entrepreneurs to think big and aim high.
“If Parsis in Mumbai and Jews in United states who account for a small population can thrive and achieve success commercially in Mumbai and the United States, why can’t we?” Kalon Karma Yeshi said and added, “Formal education is not necessary to successfully run a business. Case in point, Mumbai’s Dabbawalla (tiffin service).”
The Finance Kalon further urged more Tibetan women entrepreneurs to come forward and called on Tibetan entrepreneurs across the diaspora to be mindful of the law of the land while pursuing their business and concluded by encouraging them to take up charity works once their business thrives as some successful Tibetan entrepreneurs have done.
Finance Department of CTA, under its TED Entrepreneurship Investment Award, provides finalist Tibetan entrepreneurs up to fifteen lakh rupees to nurture and support them.
“First, the internal selection committee will screen the applications and shortlist ten applicants. Then they will undergo an interview to be conducted by a panel of three senior Tibetan entrepreneurs who will shortlist a total of 5 or 6 finalist depending on whatever they deem fitting. Finally, a panel of two Indian and a Tibetan expert entrepreneur will decide the winners and provide the fund based on the requirement,” said Tenzin Wangyal, Operational Team Member of TED.
The Finance department has also invited Chartered Accountant M. Sathya Kumar to speak about the recently introduced Goods and Service Tax (GST) and its impact to the Tibetan entrepreneurs in general.
The interview round for the ten short listed Tibetan entrepreneurs was conducted today and 6 candidates were further shortlisted for the finals. The winners will be announced tomorrow.
