Guwahati: Assam science and technology minister Keshab Mahanta on Wednesday inaugurated the Woodworking Livelihood Business Incubation Centre on the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) campus here.

The incubator centre, set up by the IIE, is sponsored by the ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) under A Scheme for Promoting Innovation, Rural Industry and Entrepreneurship (Aspire).

The livelihood business incubation model under Aspire envisages setting up business incubators to impart entrepreneurship and skill development training to youth, mentoring and hand-holding them with funds to empower entrepreneurs to set up their own ventures.

The IIE will provide training at the centre on woodworking to around 800 trainees every year on the eight machines installed at the centre. The machines include a computerised numeric console for designing, a bench saw, a spindle moulder, a multi-boring machine, a sanding machine and others machines to work on wood.

Mahanta appreciated the IIE for setting up the centre and said, "This is the first livelihood business centre set up in the state and I am sure many more will be set up to provide skill development to entrepreneurs and increase productivity."

The building for the centre has been constructed at a cost of Rs 56 lakh while the machinery costs around Rs 55 lakh.

"We have retrofitted the building on a generator shed, utilising the space properly. Local youth will get employment in operating the machines while training on woodwork will be imparted to around 800 entrepreneurs every year. The MSME ministry is providing around Rs 2 crore for training," IIE director Manoj Kumar Das said.

"Everything from modular kitchen parts to souvenirs like rhinos, picture frames and decorative items can be made with the machines," Das said.