[Assam] State youth’s success story (The Assam Tribune,13.01.2008)

[Buljit Buragohain]

State youth’s success story
By Ajit Patowary
 GUWAHATI, Jan 12 – Believe it or not, a youth from the State who went to Austria to do a postgraduate course in hotel management in 1989, is now the owner of a hotel management company in that country and a four-star hotel in Gotzis city there! He is Yasobanta Mahanta. He hails from Helem in Sonitpur district. He did his B Com from Gauhati University appearing from the Gauhati Commerce College and then went to Chennai. In that South Indian city, he completed a three-year course in hotel management. And then in 1989, he sailed for Austria.

Son of a primary school teacher couple, Mahanta did not have any business background, he said when talking to this correspondent on the sidelines of the Friends of Assam and Seven States (FASS) international meet at the Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture here on Friday.

He is maintaining links with the Federation of Industries and Commerce, NE Region (FINER) for development of tourism in the region for the past two years. He also took a group of 22 people to Austria from the city in May 2007.

He said that he was hopeful that through the FASS, he would be able to help tourism grow in the region.

He has identified the main obstacles on the way of developing tourism industry in the region. Some of them are, he said, lack of skilled people and professionals.

He has a vision too for development of this sector in the region. Through involvement of the local people at all the stages one should aspire to develop the region’s tourism sector, he said, adding, the obstacles like lack of skilled people, professionals etc should also be overcome for the purpose with a positive outlook.

On how he could promote his career in Austria, he said that through hard work and further education, he could establish himself in that European country. “I could rise through struggle,” he said.

Commenting on the support he received from the Austrian Government, he said that in that country the Government always used to help new entrepreneurs specially in the tourism sector. But to receive such supports, aspirants should also be capable. Professionalism and competence are the two most essential qualities for the purpose, he said. 

In reply to a question he said that he had not approached the Indian Government for any support to his business ventures in Austria.
(The Assam Tribune,13.01.2008)


       
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