Patna: A training workshop to boost women entrepreneurship in India and Bihar was held on Wednesday.

The event was organised with the support of the American consulate in Calcutta and Bihar Entrepreneurship Association, under the aegis of All India Road Show on Women's Economic Empowerment through Entrepreneurship (AIRSWEE) project.

Thirty women entrepreneurs from Bihar, Jharkhand, Bengal and Northeast talked about skills in marketing, finance and human resource management during the session.

Sunil Kumar, agriculture production commissioner, Bihar government, said: "Unless women are empowered, no country can progress. Agricultural entrepreneurship in the state is growing and we will provide the maximum policy and financial support to agri start-ups run by women."

Keerthana George, India director, AIRSWEE said: "The objective of the 2nd version of the project is to educate and inspire women in smaller cities to consider entrepreneurship as a viable and rewarding career path."

"Success in any enterprise comes after a lot of trials. Entrepreneurship is a collaborative domain and it is necessary for businesswomen to learn the skills required," said Dharti Desai, a mentor from the US. Swati Shikha, a businesswoman, said: "I came here to learn marketing and business model skills, it will help in the expansion of my food catering business."

Abhishek Kumar, secretary, Bihar Entrepreneurship Association, said: "The entrepreneurship potential in Bihar is untapped. However, it is an effective way of empowering women. The participants from agriculture, health, education, robotics, handicrafts and artificial intelligence start-ups brainstormed during the training programme. However the training provided was free of cost."

The four-day workshop will end on Saturday and five women entrepreneurs will be selected and get business development support from TiE Global, an organisation associated with the US government. The project is fully funded by the American government through its embassy in India.

"Women of the state can increase their social and financial security through entrepreneurship by making money they can contribute to their families and society," said Keerthana.