CM Tamang urges youth to take courage and plan wisely on World Entrepreneurs Day 2025

On the occasion of World Entrepreneurs Day 2025, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang delivered an inspiring message to young and aspiring entrepreneurs. Speaking at a special event in Gangtok, he underlined the importance of courage, planning, and independent decision-making in the journey of business.

The Chief Minister said that many people often look at successful entrepreneurs and admire their courage to take big risks from the very beginning. “Sometimes, a business succeeds in just one attempt. Some even take loans, and suddenly someone becomes a coder or a businessman. But what matters most is the courage to take the first step forward. That courage itself is a good sign,” he said.

However, Tamang cautioned against blindly following others. He pointed out that many people start shops, restaurants, or motor parts businesses only because someone else suggested it, without having any knowledge or experience. “This is the reason why many businesses fail. They are started under influence, not out of personal vision or planning,” he added. He illustrated this with an example from village life—where if one person opens a restaurant and succeeds with 100 customers, another person soon opens the same business. The result is that each ends up with only 50 customers and both face losses.

The Chief Minister stressed that before entering into any business, whether it is restaurants, vegetables, handicrafts, or motor parts, proper planning is necessary. “Success comes with preparation, not haste. Even if your first venture fails, you gain experience in discipline, timing, behavior, and customer service,” he explained. He added that even small things like opening a restaurant late in the morning could drive away customers.

Tamang also said that most Sikkimese today are first-generation entrepreneurs, as earlier generations did not engage much in business. This, he said, sometimes creates fear and doubt in people’s minds. “But if others in India started from nothing and built industries, why can’t we? We should learn from their examples and move forward with confidence,” he remarked.

Highlighting the role of government support, the Chief Minister said that both the central and state governments have introduced several schemes for entrepreneurs. Institutions like SIDBI and other dedicated cells are working to guide and assist local entrepreneurs. Unlike earlier times, when there was no proper guidance, today there are support systems to help young business minds.

But he warned that success never comes overnight. Comparing entrepreneurship to politics, he said, “No one becomes an MLA, Minister, or Chief Minister in their first attempt. One must struggle. Business is the same—it requires hard work, patience, and persistence.”

Tamang also drew attention to the difference between jobs and entrepreneurship. “Jobs mean working under someone else. But an entrepreneur creates their own path and destiny. Leaders like Ambani and Adani also started small before becoming icons. Everyone has to begin somewhere,” he told the gathering.

Tamang urged the youth of Sikkim not to fear failure and not to copy others blindly. Instead, he advised them to identify their own strengths, plan carefully, and take bold steps. “My message is—don’t be afraid of failure. Start where your knowledge and ability lie. Plan well, learn from experience, and take risks with courage. That is the true spirit of entrepreneurship,” he said.