OSCE Centre supports entrepreneurship training for young people in Kyrgyzstan's rural regions
BISHKEK, 23 July 2009 - Young people from Kyrgyzstan's rural regions completed today a two-week training course on entrepreneurial skills, given by top students at Bishkek-based economic universities.
The course, which was held simultaneously in ten locations across the country, was organized by the Bishkek Business Club with financing from the OSCE Centre in Bishkek as part of the Centre's initiative to develop rural entrepreneurship. The 25 Bishkek-based students received extensive training on teaching business before being deployed to the regions.
"Providing opportunities for skills-based training is a very practical way in which OSCE can support more people to share in Kyrgyzstan's economic growth. Given that some 65 percent of the population still lives in rural areas, OSCE puts particular emphasis on the provinces," said Ambassador Andrew Tesoriere, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek. "Through this particular initiative, rural youth had an opportunity to collaborate with urban youth to develop their skills in preparing small scale business plans. This exercise is mutually supportive since it can help both to diversify the rural economy and to improve the understanding of urban entrepreneurs in doing business in the regions."
Uluk Kydyrbaev, the executive director of the Bishkek Business Club, said: "This has been a great experience collaborating with the OSCE to promote a free market economy and entrepreneurship in rural areas. This initiative has a positive impact in many ways by encouraging new leaders, the social and economic development of remote rural areas and interregional understanding. Furthermore, we expect this initiative to be supported by the local governments and business communities across the country."
Ulugbek Kilichov, a student at the Economic and Finance Academy in Bishkek who taught one of the courses, added: "I believe this project is an effective way to raise the level of entrepreneurship among rural young people. I could see that the participants were willing to relay their knowledge and inspiring examples to young people in the regions to help them become independent and creative."
The best business plans developed by the young rural entrepreneurs will be awarded prizes at the end of the project. More information will be available at www.bdk.kg.