IIM Calcutta Innovation Park is organized a Capacity Enhancement Programme (Shilpa Shibir 2015) for the District Industries Centre (DIC) Officers of the West Bengal MSME Department and the Industrial Development Officers to support District-Level Entrepreneurship Development.

The workshop was conducted in 4 batches from 11 May 2015 to 09 June 2015 covering 260 officials from 19 districts of West Bengal.

This programme had a focus on interactions, discussions & ideation sessions, group exercises, role play, shared learning and practical approach rather than a classroom style lecture. It focused on making participants more familiar and adept at using the key processes, systems, tools and techniques that will enable their transition from regulators to supportive facilitators of entrepreneurship in the districts of West Bengal.

It included workshops on technical aspects like – how to create a good business plan and how to evaluate bank loan applications. There was an interactive session with local entrepreneurs from different domains, who spoke to the officers regarding their entrepreneurship journey and the support which they expect from the government.

A session on the importance of effective communication was conducted which stressed on the need to develop the right attitude.

The workshop included an informal session with the Principal Secretary, Department of Micro and Small Scale Enterprises & Textiles, Government of West Bengal, where the Principal Secretary shared the new initiatives taken up by the MSME department. He also appreciated the efforts put in by IIMCIP in supporting these new initiatives and promoting entrepreneurship in the state.