Cisco, a supplier of networking equipment and network management for the Internet, has tied up with Small Industries Development Bank of India (Sidbi) and Tiruchirapallai Regional Engineering College – Science and Technology Entrepreneurs Park (TNREC-STEP) to launch a pilot programme in Tamil Nadu.

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The pilot programme, which will be for two years, is aimed at promoting information and communications technology (ICT) entrepreneurship. Under this, Sidbi will provide loans to entrepreneurs, while Cisco will subsidise the interest repayment, which is estimated to be around 12 per cent, and guarantee fees on the loans. The institute will provide training and mentoring to participants.

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