GES 2017 Day 0: A Quick Look At All That Happened
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For the first time, the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) is being held in South Asia. The three-day summit, from November 28-30, 2017 is being held at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) and Hyderabad International Trade Expositions (Hitex).
Ivanka is leading a delegation of senior White House officials as well as American entrepreneurs. The theme of this year's summit is “Women First, Prosperity for All” and will include 1,200 entrepreneurs, and most of them are women.
Mitra, made in India robot, greets PM Modi and Ivanka Trump
Indigenously designed robot “Mitra” greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ivanka Trump and they inaugurated the Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2017 in Hyderabad by pressing a button.
Ivanka Trump At GES 2017: Highlights Of Her Speech
“Thank you PM Modi for joining us today, for making India a symbol of democracy and beacon of hope for the world,” said Ivanka, as she addressed the gathering.
“Transformational change has been proved by you (PM Modi), from selling tea in your childhood to becoming Prime Minister of India,” she added, much to the cheer of the Indian audience.
“After my father's election, I saw the opportunity to leave my businesses to serve my country. India has a true friend in the White House, as President Trump had said earlier this year,” she added, on the Indo-US partnership.
Hyderabad, the hi-tech city, came in fir praise from Ivanka. “Hyderabad is quickly emerging as the innovation hub of India. This summit is a symbol of growing economic and security cooperation between India and US,” she said.
“For the first time ever, women make up 50 per cent of the people selected for this summit. Women entrepreneurs got less than 3 percent funding to establish businesses in 2016. Today, more than 11 million women in the US own businesses. In many countries women cannot even walk the streets without men. The women entrepreneurs finance initiative will provide access to capital, network to women in developing countries. It also seeks to address the legal barriers that limit opportunity for women entrepreneurs,” she said, addressing the women entrepreneurs, in keeping with the theme of women entrepreneurs.
Narendra Modi At GES 2017: Highlights Of His Speech
PM Modi used the occasion to highlight what he and his government had done to encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation in the country.
“My government has launched the Atal Innovation Mission. We are opening Tinkering Labs in more than 900 schools to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among children,” he said.
He also paid an ode to the Indian “naari Shakti”.
“Indian women continue to lead in different walks of life. Our space programmes, including the Mars Orbiter Mission, have had immense contribution from women scientists. Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams, both of Indian origin, have been part of US space missions,” he said.
“Indian women continue to lead in different walks of life. Startup India, is a comprehensive action plan to provide support to startups. More than 70 million loans have been transferred to women entrepreneurs,” he added.
“The power to think differently and ahead of times for the betterment of mankind is what sets entrepreneurs apart. I see that power in India’s young generation today. I see 800 million potential entrepreneurs who can make our world a better place. The theme, 'Women First, Prosperity For All' makes this edition of GES stand out. In Indian mythology, women are an incarnation of Shakti- the Goddess of power. We believe women empowerment is vital to our development,” was his parting shot.
Meanwhile, Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who proposed the vote of thanks, said: “I would like to thank Ivanka Trump, co-host of this summit. She represents energy & spirit of an entrepreneur that characterizes the youth of today. I am sure her presence will inspire women entrepreneurs from India & across the world.”
“I have no doubt that under the leadership of PM Modi and President Trump, India and US relations will reach new heights & contribute to global peace & prosperity.”
“I am chinnamma of Telangana, that’s why I can say that it is a perfect mix of traditionalism and modernization,” she added to a cheering local crowd. In Telugu, ‘Chinnamma’ means mother’s young sister or a maternal aunt.
Along with Swaraj, other attendees at the summit were Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Commerce & Industry of India Suresh Prabhu.
