The Indian Institute of Management Jammu concluded the Advanced Management Development Programme (AMDP) under the Entrepreneurship Skill Development Programme (ESDP) of the Development Commissioner, MSME (DCMSME), Government of India, with a valedictory ceremony held at its Jagti Campus on 06th Feb 2026. The ceremony was presided over by Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean, Faculty and Research, IIM Jammu, and was graced by Prof. Rajesh Sikka, Co-Chairperson, Executive Education and Consultancy, IIM Jammu; Prof. Pranab Ranjan Das, Chairperson, SBDU and Programme Director; and Dr. Sumesh P. Soman, Programme Director, IIM Jammu.

The five-day residential programme, conducted from 02 to 06 February 2026, saw the participation of 26 existing entrepreneurs from diverse sectors, representing a broad cross-section of India’s MSME ecosystem. The programme aimed to enhance managerial capabilities and strategic thinking to enable sustainable growth and competitiveness.

Addressing the participants, Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean, Faculty and Research, IIM Jammu described the programme as an immersive learning experience, reiterating that IIM Jammu’s mandate extends beyond producing MBAs to creating entrepreneurs. He highlighted the Institute’s initiatives through training programmes in collaboration with MSME and the Ministries of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, as well as the establishment of incubation centres in Jammu & Kashmir and Leh. Emphasising that the participants are torchbearers of change, he noted that the programme’s learnings would generate a multiplier effect, adding that the success of the participants is integral to IIM Jammu’s vision.

Prof. Rajesh Sikka, Co-Chairperson, Executive Education and Consultancy, IIM Jammu provided an overview of IIM Jammu’s Executive Education and Consultancy, highlighting the Institute’s academic and executive training programmes designed to support entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals.

Dr. Sumesh P. Soman, Programme Director, IIM Jammu, presented the five-day programme summary, highlighting that 20 sessions were delivered and emphasising the programme’s effectiveness in achieving its learning objectives and delivering tangible value to the participants. 

The participants shared their reflections on the training programme, highlighting that learning is a continuous process and that the programme served as a catalyst for personal and professional growth. They noted that the five-day engagement helped shape their perspective, aptly summed up by the thought “Yathā dṛiṣṭi, tathā sṛiṣṭi”, as the vision, so the creation.

Aligned with the theme “Capacity to Competitiveness: Strategize, Sustain and Scale,” the programme was designed for existing MSMEs, entrepreneurs, promoters, and executives, with a focus on strengthening strategic capabilities, operational resilience, financial acumen, innovation, and market orientation. Participants engaged in expert-led sessions, case discussions, experiential learning modules, and peer-to-peer interactions, fostering a holistic understanding of contemporary entrepreneurial challenges and opportunities. The vote of thanks was proposed by Prof. Pranab Ranjan Das, Chairperson, SBDU and Programme Director, IIM Jammu followed by the National Anthem.

The programme marks another significant milestone in IIM Jammu’s commitment to empowering MSMEs and nurturing resilient, growth-oriented entrepreneurs, aligned with India’s broader vision of self-reliance, innovation, and inclusive growth. The programme was organised by the Centre for Small Business Development Unit (SBDU), IIM Jammu, and executed by Executive Education and Consultancy, IIM Jammu, reinforcing the Institute’s role as a catalyst for entrepreneurial capacity building and national development.