Jammu, J&K (India): The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu inaugurated the Advanced Management Development Programme under the Entrepreneurship Skill Development Programme (ESDP) of the Development Commissioner, MSME (DCMSME), Government of India, at its Jagti Campus.
The five-day residential programme is being conducted from 9 to 13 February 2026 and is designed for participants comprising existing entrepreneurs from diverse sectors.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean, Faculty and Research, and Dr Mahesh Gadekar and Dr Muqbil Burhan, Programme Directors, IIM Jammu.
Addressing the participants, Prof. Jabir Ali appreciated the diversity of the cohort across domains and age groups. He provided an overview of IIM Jammu’s academic ecosystem, highlighting the Institute’s strong focus on entrepreneurship development, including its incubation initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir. He noted that entrepreneurship is an integral part of the Institute’s curriculum and emphasised IIM Jammu’s active collaborations with the MSME ecosystem and the Ministry of Skill Development.
Expressing confidence in the programme, he stated that the one-week programme would offer valuable insights, key takeaways, and lay a strong foundation for meaningful engagement. He encouraged participants to remain interactive, focused, and collaborative, underscoring that such engagement would lead to the co-creation of impactful ideas.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by Dr Mahesh Gadekar, Programme Director, IIM Jammu, who highlighted that the programme is being conducted under the aegis of the Development Commissioner, MSME (DCMSME), and is fully funded by the Government of India. He emphasised that the programme aims to strengthen and upscale existing entrepreneurs by enhancing their managerial, strategic, and operational capabilities.
He underscored the pivotal role of MSMEs in India’s economic growth, the focused initiatives of the Government of India in the current financial budget to promote the MSME ecosystem, and IIM Jammu’s sustained efforts in entrepreneurship development and capacity building. He concluded by extending his best wishes to the participants for a transformative learning journey.
The participants subsequently introduced themselves and shared their expectations from the programme, reflecting a strong aspiration to gain practical insights for scaling and sustaining their enterprises.
The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Muqbil Burhan, Programme Director, IIM Jammu, who acknowledged the support of DCMSME, the Government of India, the leadership of IIM Jammu, faculty members, and the enthusiastic participation of the entrepreneurs. The inaugural ceremony culminated with the National Anthem.
The programme is designed for existing SMEs, entrepreneurs, promoters, and executives, with the theme “Capacity to Competitiveness: Strategise, Sustain and Scale.” It marks another significant step in IIM Jammu’s commitment to empowering MSMEs and nurturing resilient, growth-oriented entrepreneurs aligned with India’s economic vision.
The programme is being organised by the Centre for Small Business Development Unit, IIM Jammu, and executed by Executive Education and Consultancy, IIM Jammu.DD
Correspondent Jammu
