There Are Many Opportunities For Assamese Entrepreneurs: Mark Bordoloi
The Global Assamese Entrepreneurship Forum is an international network of Assamese entrepreneurs and other stakeholders of the entrepreneurship ecosystem. GAEF President Mark Bordoloi shared his vision and the roadmap for GAEF in the conversation with Rhiddhis Chakravorty, Editor of ResourceMantra.com.
Q: Tell us about the GAEF and how can the entrepreneurs in Assam benefit from it?
MB: Global Assamese Entrepreneurship Forum (GAEF) aims to unite the Grass Root level Entrepreneurs to the mainstream Entrepreneurs. We felt there was a gap that needed to be filled. We plan to mentor, guide, and connect with fellow entrepreneurs with the prospects and those who plan to take up entrepreneurship in the future. A platform to share our showcase and success! GAEF is one of the best platforms to share and care for our North Eastern Global community. As we grow, we will be adding Angel Investors and Venture capitalists from around the world. Currently, we are in the process of forming our international core team to shape up the forum’s goal.
Q : Can GAEF also help entrepreneurs from Assam in expanding their bases globally?
MB: The objective is to connect each other initially, because the connections will open up the scopes for more networking outside the community. GAEF, will definitely work towards connecting and helping fellow entrepreneurs to expand globally by mentoring, bringing outside entrepreneurs, facilitators and organizing networking session. As I said earlier, GAEF has a long term goal so we keep adding our supports to the community as we progress.
Q: What, according to you are the major challenges and advantages for Assamese entrepreneurs?
MB: In my opinion, Lack of exposure to the available information is a major challenge. Most of the entrepreneurs do not do much market research and that’s why they leave in the middle of their entrepreneurial initiatives. I feel there is adequate finance or fund available for the right product or service. Also, its always okay for me if the entrepreneuers go out of the state and return after gaining sufficient amount of knowledge. Knowledge is everything. The Assamese or the ones from other parts of North East should take the responsibility in building the entrepreneurial environment in the region.
We felt the lack of communication, mentoring and a community focused forum. This is why GAEF will take lead in helping the entrepreneurs.
There are many advantages for Assamese Entrepreneurs in Assam or Northeast. If we are talking about consumer market, the region has a big market. So, we must find our target market to become a successful business in the region.
Q: Though Assam history has some extra ordinary examples of entrepreneurial spirit like Maniram Dewan, Bholanath Barooah etc, traditionally Assamese community is said to be a non-entrepreneurial one and unlike the Baniya communities we do not have the social environment to encourage entrepreneurship. It is also popular belief that entrepreneurship is not in our ‘blood’. How can this mindset be changed?
MB: I believe we Assamese are entrepreneurial. We still have the habit of selling small items like vegetables, nuts and also look at our Handlooms etc. We are into entrepreneurship but most of us are doing business in an unorganised way. We need to educate and change our mindsets from a consumer focused mindset to entrepreneurship mindset. As you mentioned, we have lots of successful stories to learn from the past, we just need to gain confidence, take risk and do more research while starting something on our own. Remember, only entrepreneurs can change the world and this implies to our family, society, community, village and more.
Q: You have been in the US for several years. Apart from the technological advancements, what are the key factors that differentiate the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the US and India (with special reference to Assam) and what can we learn from it?
MB: Demography and ease of doing business play crucial roles. In the USA, people are informed and take calculative risks. They are prepared for the result and mostly in anticipation of a higher success rate. I would like to focus on to Two Sectors where Assam learn from the USA. One is the agriculture has huge potential. Most of the lands are still barren and not used throughout the year. Another is Tourism which can be an emerging growth sector in the entire North east India.
Q: What are the sectors in NE that have got immense potentials but are yet to be explored?
MB: As said, Agriculture and Tourism has immense potential for not only in generating revenue, but in creating thousands of Jobs locally. Other areas will be garments, plastic utensils/toys, metal designs and many more to explore. It will be good to identify One District One Product idea and ensure a proper workflow to scale it up. India is a big consumer market and its middle class are the largest consumer. Therefore, an Export oriented workflow will boost the entrepreneurial aspirations in the region.
Q: As far as government’s role is concerned, what according to you are the steps needed to be taken to improve the startup ecosystem in Assam, NE or India?
MB: I believe, the Government has many schemes and policies already. The role of Government and its policy makers will be to popularise them and make those readily available for all the citizens. India has lots of startup hubs now so it’s an individual’s responsibility to study and contact for more information.
(Mark Bordoloi is an US based entrepreneur and the President of Global Assamese Entrepreneurship Forum)
