Cisco collaborates with SIDBI, introduce pilot prog in TN

Bangalore, Nov 20 (UNI) Networking major Cisco has tied-up with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and Tiruchirappalli REC-STEP to promote ICT entrepreneurship and innovation.

The programme would provide financing, loan subsidies, mentorship and training to qualified entrepreneurs and small businesses.

As part of the pilot programme, SIDBI would finance small ICT businesses in Tamil Nadu to begin with and this would be run by Cisco Networking Academy students.

Under the programme, SIDBI would provide loans to entrepreneurs, while Cisco will subsidise the interest repayment and guarantee fees on the loans. TREC-STEP would provide customised training and mentoring to participants in the pilot, a Cisco release here said.

Developed under a Cisco-CSR programme to promote microfinance and ICT entrepreneurship across the world, the new entrepreneurship pilot programme will initially involve ten ICT businesses in Tamil Nadu.

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