The Call covers 12 pilot districts of the Project:
· Brest region: Kobryn and Biaroza;
· Viciebsk region: Braslaŭ and Orša;
· Homieĺ region: Brahin, Žlobin and Chojniki;
· Hrodna region: Lida;
· Minsk region: Barysaŭ and Maladzečna;
· Mahilioŭ region: Bychaŭ and Kličaŭ.
The following applicants are eligible to apply:
· Legal private entities registered in the Republic of Belarus, based in the Project pilot districts;
· Individual entrepreneurs registered in the Republic of Belarus, based in the Project pilot districts.
To apply, please submit an application via the website https://www.prospring.by. The Call for Entrepreneurial Initiatives is open from February 15, 2021 to March 30, 2021.
The first 240 applicants will be able to receive individual remote consultations from business experts. The consultations will give an opportunity to discuss in detail the implementation of a business idea, and to get information about its start and possible development options.
“Untapping and using full potential of each district is one of the priorities of the state policy and is the focus of a number of the current five-year state programmes. Within the framework of the project, we seek to support entrepreneurship initiatives aimed at introducing and developing advanced business models in pilot districts, contributing to sustainable economic growth and improving the well-being of the population of the regions,” commented Irina Babachenok, Deputy Director of the Directorate of Regional Development and Property Relations/Director of the Property Relations Department of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Belarus, National Project Coordinator.
“This contest is a unique opportunity to support small businesses in the regions, including in order to minimize the risks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We know how difficult it is to decide to start a business and want to support entrepreneurs, thus contributing to the sustainable development of the regions, creating jobs and providing income to the population,” said Dirk Schuebel, Head of the European Union Delegation to Belarus.
“When starting a business or thinking about expanding it, an entrepreneur often faces a lack of funds. The winners of the contest will be able to receive support in the form of goods, works or services for a total of $1.7 million. Thus, we create an enabling environment for business development in the regions, and support the sustainable economic development in the country,” said Alexandra Solovieva, UNDP Resident Representative in Belarus.
The Project “Support to Economic Development at the Local Level in the Republic of Belarus” is funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Belarus.
For more information, please contact Nadzeya Sinelnik, Project Communications Specialist, by email at nadzeya.sinelnik@undp.org.
