US Consulate, ACIR host defense and aerospace workshop for youth, women entrepreneurs

Hyderabad: The U.S consulate is hosting a three-day 'Defense and Aerospace Workshop' here to support ambitious and innovative entrepreneurs from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha by empowering them to transform their business venture into a sustainable enterprise and connect with leading American and Indian corporations in the defense and aerospace industries.

The workshop aims to enhance the entrepreneurial and managerial skills of individuals leading early-stage ventures. Twenty-five entrepreneurs will participate in the programme that will focus on start-ups led by women and/or people under 35 years of age. Participants were chosen through a competitive application process.

The U.S Consul General in Hyderabad Joel Reifman on Friday addressed a group of entrepreneurs who are participating in the workshop. "The strength of the U.S-India relationship is on full display at this Defense and Aerospace Workshop. These entrepreneurs are not only contributing to the deepening defense relationship between the United States and India, they are also honing business skills that will foster economic growth and vitality in both of our countries. What's more, nearly half of the start-ups here are led by women and the vast majority are either based in or founded by someone from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, or Odisha. That's an outstanding accomplishment," he said.

The U.S consulate is partnering with the Alliance for Commercialization and Innovation Research (ACIR), an American non-profit organization, to host the workshop. ACIR founder Erik Azulay said, "We are thrilled to be partnering with top U.S leaders in India such as Pratt & Whitney, Lockheed Martin, and Belcan to integrate innovative start-ups into their supply chains. This level of collaboration is a testimony to the strong U.S-Indian relationship and our shared culture of entrepreneurship."