In a star-studded event, ET NOW, India’s premier English Business News Channel, marked the 11th edition of the Leaders of Tomorrow Awards, celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation within the country.

Themed ‘Innovate to Elevate,’ the event underscored the crucial role of innovation in driving business success and contributing to India’s economic advancement, the channel said in a press release.

The ceremony honored outstanding Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and startups across 20 categories, recognizing their resilience and inventive approaches. Winners were selected through a rigorous pan-India screening process, and evaluated by a distinguished panel of jurors.

Notable attendees included Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Textiles, who delivered the keynote address on ‘Innovation as a Catalyst for Growth’ and felicitated the winners.

MK Anand, MD & CEO of Times Network, emphasized the platform’s decade-long commitment to fostering entrepreneurship. He praised the role of SMEs, MSMEs, and startups in fortifying the industrial base and contributing to economic cycles and supply chains.

Piyush Goyal applauded ET NOW for recognizing and honoring India’s entrepreneurs and their innovative spirit. He expressed optimism about India’s transformative growth, citing the nation’s potential to become a $35 trillion economy in the next 24 years. Goyal highlighted collaborative efforts, such as the Atal Setu Bridge in Mumbai, as examples of the government’s commitment to self-sufficiency.

A fireside chat with V. Vaidyanathan, MD & CEO of IDFC FIRST BANK, focused on the transformative impact of digital infrastructure on the Indian economy. Vaidyanathan highlighted the formalization of the economy through initiatives like Aadhaar and Bharat’s optic network, praising over 100 million merchants dealing digitally.

The event featured a dynamic panel discussion with industry leaders, including Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Co-founder of Info Edge, Prasiddhi Singh, Founder of Prasiddhi Forest Foundation, Nav Agarwal, Founder of One Step Greener, and Advait Thakur, Founder of Apex Infosys. Their insights sparked discussions on entrepreneurship, innovation, and the future of business in India.

The Leaders of Tomorrow Awards served as a platform to acknowledge and inspire the new generation of entrepreneurs, reinforcing India’s position on the global stage as a hub of innovation and economic growth.