21/08/2026
Message on the Occasion of World Entrepreneur Day 2026 | 21 August 2026
On the occasion of World Entrepreneur Day 2026, I extend my warm greetings and best wishes to the people of Sikkim, particularly our young people who are increasingly looking towards entrepreneurship with new aspirations, courage and hope.
Sikkim stands at an important juncture in its economic journey. Our greatest strength is not merely our natural resources or scenic beauty, but our young, talented and aspirational population. The State possesses enormous potential for entrepreneurship across tourism, agriculture and allied sectors, organic and value-added products, traditional crafts, technology, creative industries, renewable energy, hospitality and emerging services.
For decades, the aspiration for a secure government job has remained deeply rooted in our society. That aspiration is understandable, but the economic realities of the future demand that we broaden our vision. Government cannot and should not remain the sole source of employment. A resilient economy requires entrepreneurs, innovators, cooperatives, professionals, farmers, small businesses and enterprises capable of creating opportunities for others.
Entrepreneurship must therefore be viewed not merely as an alternative to government employment, but as a strategic instrument for economic transformation, self-reliance and sustainable development.
Our young people should not only seek employment; they must increasingly be empowered to become creators of employment. This requires more than encouragement. It requires access to affordable finance, mentorship, modern skills, technology, markets, incubation, infrastructure and a policy environment where genuine enterprise is supported rather than constrained by unnecessary procedural barriers.
Sikkim also does not need to blindly replicate entrepreneurial models from larger states. Our opportunities must emerge from our own strengths—our Himalayan environment, biodiversity, agriculture, tourism, culture, traditional knowledge, crafts and the creativity of our people. With the right ecosystem, a small enterprise originating in a village of Sikkim can serve markets far beyond the State.
The Citizen Action Party–Sikkim believes that entrepreneurship must become an important pillar of Sikkim’s future economy. When the Citizen Action Party–Sikkim forms the Citizens’ Government in 2029, greater emphasis will be placed on building a comprehensive and enabling entrepreneurial ecosystem, particularly for our youth. Our objective will be to move beyond the traditional approach of merely providing employment and towards creating conditions in which young people can build enterprises, generate employment and contribute directly to the State’s economic growth.
Such a vision will require stronger institutional support, easier access to finance, entrepreneurship and skill-development programmes, market linkages, technology adoption, incubation and mentorship, and greater encouragement for enterprises rooted in Sikkim’s local economy. We must also ensure that entrepreneurship reaches beyond urban centres and becomes an avenue of opportunity for young people in our villages and rural communities.
The entrepreneurial spirit is ultimately about seeing possibilities where others see limitations. If we can nurture this spirit among our youth, Sikkim can gradually transition from an economy heavily dependent on government employment towards one driven by enterprise, innovation, productivity and opportunity.
On this World Entrepreneur Day, I call upon the youth of Sikkim to think beyond the conventional definition of a career. Do not only ask where employment is available; ask what opportunities you can create. Do not only become job seekers; aspire to become job creators.
The future of Sikkim cannot be built only by seeking opportunities that already exist. It must be built by creating new opportunities for generations yet to come.
Ganesh Kumar Rai
