In a landmark move to integrate sports, skills, and entrepreneurship, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), along with the SPEFL Skill Council and the British Asian Trust, launched the “SportEdge Meerut” initiative, positioning the city as India’s model Sports Hub. The program aims to strengthen livelihoods, empower women entrepreneurs, and nurture young sporting talent while leveraging Meerut’s ₹1,500 crore sports goods industry, which contributes over 40% of India’s sports exports.
The workshop brought together stakeholders from government, industry, finance, and development sectors, including representatives from ADB, World Bank, Microsoft, SBI Foundation, and ONGC Foundation. Discussions focused on enhancing R&D, design innovation, technology adoption, and creating stronger industry representation to meet global standards.
Guwahati, a key northeastern hubis expected to benefit from this initiative through increased availability of high-quality sports goods and skill-driven entrepreneurship opportunities. Local retailers and distributors are optimistic about expanding their portfolios with innovative products from Meerut, while training centers and sports academies anticipate enhanced collaborations for skill development and athlete support programs. MSDE’s Minister of State Jayant Chaudhary emphasized that SportEdge Meerut aims to transform sports into a sustainable livelihood avenue, promoting MSME growth, women-led enterprises, and a globally competitive sports economy. SPEFL-SC will coordinate skill alignment, while MSDE ensures policy support and cross-sector collaboration for scalable impact.