Itanagar, Jan 17: Chief Minister Pema Khandu launched the 4th edition of the Arunachal Pradesh Entrepreneurship Development Programme (APEDP 4.0) on Thursday, coinciding with National Startup Day, during a conference of deputy commissioners at DK Convention Hall.

The launch event was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Chief Secretary Manish Gupta, along with other cabinet ministers, commissioners, district commissioners, and senior government officials.

The APEDP, initiated by the Arunachal Pradesh Innovation and Investment Park (APIIP) under the finance, planning, and investment department, aims to foster a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem in the state. The programme offers comprehensive support to aspiring entrepreneurs, driving socioeconomic growth across Arunachal Pradesh.

As part of the initiative, the state government has declared this year the “Year of Youth,” emphasizing the critical role of young people in shaping the future of the state.

The APEDP’s primary objective is to encourage youth to become job creators rather than job seekers, generating employment opportunities and promoting economic development in the region.

The Union Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has recognized the APEDP’s success, ranking Arunachal Pradesh as the top performer in Category B for fostering a dynamic startup ecosystem in the previous year.

In celebration of National Startup Day, APIIP also participated in a DPIIT event in New Delhi, where startups from Arunachal Pradesh took part both virtually and physically.

The APEDP 4.0 portal is now live, with aspiring entrepreneurs invited to submit their applications by February 28 via www.startup.arunachal.gov.in. Applications will be reviewed by sector experts, and qualified candidates will have the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a jury.

Under APEDP 4.0, 50 startups will be selected based on the quality of their business ideas and pitches. The top 10 winners will receive seed funding of Rs 5,00,000 each, while the next 40 winners will receive Rs 4,00,000 each. Additionally, selected startups will be incubated at the APIIP and enrolled in a nine-month incubation program.