Despite the recent tragic train accident in Odisha that resulted in the death of more than 250 people, the third meeting of the Startup20 Engagement Group is still scheduled to occur in Goa. Union Minister Piyush Goyal, a former railway minister, spoke about the tragedy on Saturday during the inaugural function of the Startup20 event, which aims to foster collaboration, exchange ideas, and shape the future of start ups and entrepreneurship on a global scale. Goyal explained that he had considered cancelling the event, but decided to move forward with it out of respect for the delegates’ time.
The Startup20 meeting brings together over 200 delegates from more than 15 countries to form a consensus on the start-up Draft Policy Communique. The two-day event, which began on Saturday, will provide an opportunity to explore how start-up ecosystems from different countries can be integrated. Named Goa Sankalpana, the event serves as a prime opportunity to exchange ideas and form a global consensus to shape the future of entrepreneurship.
Goyal offered condolences to the families and victims of the Odisha train accident and acknowledged the severity of the tragedy. However, he believes it is important to move forward with the meeting since the event provides a platform for collaboration and exchange of ideas among international delegates.
The decision of the Union Minister has drawn mixed reactions from the general public. While some believe it is a right decision to continue with the event, others highlight the insensitivity of the organisers in choosing to proceed with the event despite the heartbreaking incident. However, it seems that the benefits of the event outweigh the disadvantages, especially since participants from different countries are already present and prepared for the meeting.
The Global Entrepreneurship Summit and Startup India initiative have made India an attractive destination for start-ups, both domestic and foreign. The Startup20 Engagement Group meeting is expected to further strengthen India’s ties with different start-up ecosystems, creating the necessary groundwork for developing the country’s entrepreneurship.
