Jodhpur, December 27
Under the Western Rajasthan Industry & Handicrafts Festival 2026, a seminar on the theme “Artificial Intelligence in MSMEs” was organised on Saturday by the IT wing of Laghu Udyog Bharati. Subject experts elaborated on the topic and emphasized that Artificial Intelligence is a necessity of the present time. They stated that there is no need to fear AI; rather, it is a technology that creates new opportunities.
The seminar was jointly organised by Laghu Udyog Bharati and the Software Technology Association of Rajasthan (STARS). Industrialists from various sectors, MSME entrepreneurs, startup founders, academicians, and students from different colleges and faculties participated in the event.
STARS President Dr. Deepak Singh Gehlot said that Artificial Intelligence is a crucial requirement of today’s era and a technology that opens doors to opportunities. He urged youth and business professionals to learn and adopt AI. The chief guest, Director of the Department of Information Technology (DoIT), M. R. Purohit, highlighted the importance of AI and said that the practical examples presented during the seminar would have far-reaching impact in the coming years and help strengthen Rajasthan digitally.
Laghu Udyog Bharati Provincial President Balkishan Parihar, in his address, said that Artificial Intelligence plays an extremely important role in both daily life and business today. He encouraged small and medium enterprises to embrace technology and expressed gratitude to STARS and LUB for successfully organising the seminar.
LUB Provincial Vice President Harish Lohiya said that the panel discussion on “AI: Your Biggest Threat or Your Career Partner?” proved especially inspiring for students. The panel featured experts including Puneet Rao, London-based Sudhir Joshi, and Dubai-based Nandi Mehta, along with specialists from IIT Jodhpur, GIET, and the industry, who shared practical tips with young participants.
Sales and Marketing Session Convenor Pankaj Budhwani shared insights on the use of AI in sales and marketing, government initiatives for startups, and AI-based solutions for MSMEs.
Information Shared on Rajasthan Government’s Startup Initiatives
Raunak Singhvi from iStart Rajasthan informed participants about the efforts being made by the Rajasthan government to promote startups. Additionally, three startup founders awarded under the iStart State Grant—Raghav Sharma (Skillonation), Nikhil Gehlot (Idea Forge Innovations), and Ashwani Sharma (Earthloom)—shared their entrepreneurial journeys and the support received from the state government.
STARS Secretary Mayank Gupta, Vice Presidents Rajesh Narula and Puneet Rao, and Treasurer Yogesh Mathur played key roles in the seminar’s success. Present on the occasion were former National President of Laghu Udyog Bharati Ghanshyam Ojha, Fair Chief Convenor Mahavir Chopra, LUB Provincial General Secretary Suresh Vishnoi, Provincial Vice President Pankaj Bhandari, and STARS members Anand Sharma, Kushagra Bhatia, Pankaj Budhwani, Pallav Maheshwari, Sanjay Jangid, Sachin Khatri, and Deepak Sharma.
Lecture on ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ on Sunday
As part of the Western Rajasthan Industry & Handicrafts Festival, a lecture on Atmanirbhar Bharat will be delivered on Sunday by Sunil Singhi, Chairman of the National Traders Welfare Board.
