Crises is an opportunity: Andhra Minister at EOTY Awards

“The State of Andhra Pradesh was started with zero capital after the bifurcation in 2014,” said Nara Lokesh, Minister of Information Technology, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, Government of Andhra Pradesh at the award ceremony of “Entrepreneur of the Year – 2017” (EOTY) organized by the Entrepreneur’s Organization, Coimbatore Chapter recently.

Presenting the awards, he has stated that India is not an easy market to enter. The competition is sky-high and making it a level playing field is not simple as people assume. Our approach towards the crises opened up new opportunities. In the year 2014, not even a single mobile phone was manufactured in Andhra Pradesh. But now, two out of 10 mobile phones that are manufactured and sold in India are produced in Andhra Pradesh. It is a new perspective that changed things for us.

Some people asked him how, he could make so much development possible without money. He would tell them, “money is not the constraint, if you have the ability to make your ideas come true. Anything is possible”.

“Global giants like KIA Motors, Foxconn, Asian Paints, Apollo tyres and CEAT tyres have all invested in Andhra Pradesh because of the opportunities we created despite the crises,” says IT Minister Nara Lokesh.

I request the entrepreneurs to take constraints as an opportunity. It is the only way to progress towards goals and noted that the, “First generation entrepreneurs are the most successful and the passionate ones. They often set a standard to their business. However once the second and third generation entrepreneur enter, most of the business collapses because they consume more than they generate”, he says.

“In order to overcome the hurdles, I urge the third and fourth generation entrepreneurs to become good generators,” said IT Minister Nara Lokesh.

Receiving the award as the “Established Entrepreneur of the Year” P. Nataraj, Managing Director of KPR Mill Ltd stated that, “Coming from an agricultural family we brothers started our hand loom business with the capital of Rs. 10,000/-. Now we are India’s largest vertically integrated Apparel manufacturing company producing Yarn, Knitted Grey & Dyed Fabric and Readymade Garments. It took years for us to reach this height”.

“Success did not knock at our door over-night. We had a dream and we worked meticulously towards realizing it. Our progress was steady and the patience is paying off,” said, P.Nataraj, MD, KPR Mill Ltd and thanked his elder brother K.P.Ramasamy, Chairman of KPR Group calling him the guiding force behind his success.

Jayantra, Chair of EOTY, Coimbatore said that for the three categories of awards, “We received nearly 120+ nominations. With the help of eminent panel of judges and two rounds of judging for the contestants, we decided the winners for the year.”

Abhay Mehta, Regional Director of EO said, EO aims at creating opportunities for student entrepreneurs, especially, the first-generation entrepreneurs and women entrepreneurs to make connections and find resources to grow business.

Siva Balakrishnan, Regional Director of Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) says, “the GESA awards of the EO will be held in December. Under Graduate and Post Graduate students who are actively running business can apply. 25 applicants have been found eligible from Coimbatore region so far.”

“EO Coimbatore Chapter is planning to launch the Accelerator Program, to catapult the first stage entrepreneurs who have less than 2 crore turnover with a structured one year mentoring program to move to the next level,” he added.

  1. Rangaraj, Chief Executive Office of Madhampatty Thangavelu Hospitality Pvt Ltd was awarded the “Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year”. Ranjana Singhal, Partner of the Terra Co (That’s Y Food/ On The Go) was awarded the “Women Entrepreneur of the Year”.