BARAMATI, India: Today, 47% of the world's population still live in rural areas but rural exodus has become an important international issue. In 2007, for the first time in the history of mankind, urban populations exceeded those of rural areas, posing serious challenges of which we are all aware.
One way to temper this trend is through the spread of rural entrepreneurship, which is key to sustaining livelihoods in rural areas. By exploring and sharing knowledge on the best entrepreneurial practices and solutions, the Rural World Entrepreneurship Forum seeks to nurture rural innovations with a clear focus on empowering rural areas.
Organized jointly by the World Entrepreneurship Forum and the Environmental Forum of India (EFOI), the 1st Rural World Entrepreneurship Forum was inaugurated by India's Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Sharadchandraji Pawar, in front of 3,500 people.
The initiator of the Forum, Mrs. Sunetra Pawar, Founder and President of EFOI, presented it as "a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas, vision and how they will impact the rural entrepreneurial ecosystem".
The two day in-depth discussion highlighted innovative initiatives likely to create jobs and develop self-reliant rural communities.
Among the companies presented:
- Gadhia Solar Energy Systems: solar oven
- ARTI: conversion of agricultural waste into charcoal
- MittiCool: earthenware kitchen devices
- IKP Center for Advancement in Agricultural Practice and National Institute of Agricultural Marketing
Founded in 2008 by EM LYON Business School and KPMG France, later joined by Singaporean institutions Action Community for Entrepreneurship and Nanyang Technological University, Grand Lyon, the Lyon Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Zhejiang University in China.
Its mission statement is to solve the world's problems through entrepreneurs as creators of wealth and social justice. Since 2008, 600 participants from 75 countries have met to tackle today's most pressing issues with entrepreneurial solutions.
For more information: http://www.world-entrepreneurship-forum.com
Environmental Forum of India (EFOI), based in Baramati, is one of the pioneering environmental NGOs in India working in the field of Environmental Education and Sustainable Development. Since 2010, EFOI has been at the forefront of the country's environmental movement, providing a unique platform for discussions and ideas.
For more information: http://www.evfindia.org
Media Contact: Stéphanie Kergall
Deputy Director - World Entrepreneurship Forum
kergall@em-lyon.com
+33(0)4-78-33-77-12
SOURCE EM Lyon
