Gandhinagar, Jan 28 (NationPress) The ‘BRICS - Youth Council Entrepreneurship Pre-Consultation’ conference was launched on Tuesday at the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in Gandhinagar.

This initiative is designed to create a platform for young innovators and researchers to showcase their ideas, facilitated by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Global Counter Terrorism Council (GCTC).

During the event, Balvantsinh Rajput, the state Industry Minister, highlighted the significance of empowering India's youth, who currently represent the largest demographic group in the nation.

Rajput attributed the state's progress in the industrial sector to PM Modi’s vision, describing it as a model for other Indian states.

“Today, Gujarat contributes 33 percent of the country's exports and more than 18 percent of India's total industrial output,” Rajput stated.

He further mentioned that the state contributes around 8.4 percent to the national GDP, making it the top job-generating state in India.

In 2022, the count of entities recognized as startups by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in Gujarat surged to 26,542, reflecting an 83 percent increase from 2020.

The minister elaborated that Gujarat’s startup ecosystem is varied, with significant numbers in sectors like healthcare and life sciences, IT services, and agriculture.

“For instance, Gujarat is home to 1,343 startups in healthcare, 1,186 in IT services, and 819 in agriculture, demonstrating the state's commitment to promoting innovation across diverse industries,” he noted.

He also shared that the youthful demographic is a vital part of the entrepreneurial landscape, as over 60 percent of Gujarat's population falls within the 15-45 age bracket.

The minister additionally discussed the government's continuous endeavors to equip the youth with technology skills for the future.

“With initiatives like the 'Start-Up Policy', Gujarat has established itself as the forefront state in nurturing an entrepreneurial culture, boasting over 12,000 startups in the state and around 150,000 nationwide,” he remarked.

Rajput emphasized the necessity for youth involvement in research to drive national development through innovation and entrepreneurship.

J.M. Vyas, Chancellor of NFSU, also addressed the audience, encouraging young entrepreneurs to leverage their abilities as India gears up to host the forthcoming BRICS summit.

“This summit will highlight the talents of India’s young entrepreneurs, and we are actively working to enhance the youth's awareness about BRICS through various preparatory programs. NFSU is honored to contribute to this initiative,” Vyas stated.

Prajna Kulshreshtha, GCTC’s Strategic Consultant, also addressed the gathering, underscoring that this program provides a remarkable opportunity for the youth of India to present their innovative concepts, startup initiatives, and entrepreneurial zeal on an international platform during the BRICS meeting.