The time has come…
This is a text of the speech that Sarath Naru, Managing Partner, VenturEast, delivered at the BYST Growth Fund launch function.
Welcome to the Honourable Minister, Shri Malla, Shri Sinha, Shri Viswanathan, Shri Prabhakar, Shri Gopal Srinivasan, well wishers, entrepreneurs and mentors, the media, and my colleagues from BYST and VenturEast.
Sarath with Hon'ble Minister Shri. P. Chidambaram during the launch function
If a commercial, crass vulture capitalist like us, Ventureast; If a non-profit organization like BYST; If sophisticated institutions both international and domestic that typically focus on big initiatives not small ones like ours, such as the IFC and SIDBI; If Industry captains such as Prabhakar of Newgen, Kris Gopalakrishnan of Infosys, Dr. Anji Reddy of Dr. Reddys; and others pick this effort despite many other worthy options to support; If eagerly sought after IIT and IIM graduates such as Pranay and Snigdha come and work for a pittance; If a leading micro-equity fund manager like Aavishkaar can join in; And finally, and importantly, if an important Minister follows an initiative from his past portfolio despite the huge commitments of the current portfolio, and if all these have come together, then the time must have come !
The time must have clearly come ladies and gentlemen, if at 8AM in the morning on a weekend you are assembled here to witness this launch and for that I thank you.
Ladies and gentlemen! The time of the small entrepreneur has come!
The time has come to make a difference by joining hands with the micro-entrepreneurs of the country. The small entrepreneur is already making a difference to the country despite the odds that they face. It is reported that 90% of the total enterprises of the country are lead by micro-entrepreneurs! It is obvious that removing some of the blocks that these small entrepreneurs face, and giving them similar support as their larger bretheren, can have a huge impact on our nation. Supporting these small enterprises must and will lead to huge employment generation and economic growth for the country across the board!
Now I quote from an inspiring leader who is also considered to be tough, and a task master,
Progress is not always on a linear path, nor is it inevitable. Two thousand years ago, Saint Thiruvalluvar said, ‘aran izhukkathu allavai neeki maran izhukka maanam udayathu arasu’ (they are good rulers those who observe ethics, commit no crime and walk the path of honour and courage). If we bring thought and passion to our governance, and walk the path of honour and courage, we can make the future happen. And this century will be India’s century.
To that I add, this will be India’s century because it will be the century of the small entrepreneur
This leader I quote from is none other than the Honourable Minister Shri. P. Chidambaram. (The Chief Guest of the function)
Posted by admin on January 27th, 2009 :: Filed under BYST Growth Fund, Launch function, Sarath Naru
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