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Iraq’s First Small Business Conference in Erbil Dec 2012. The purpose of the conference was to highlight the critical role small businesses play in achieving the goals of the National Employment Policy in Iraq, and to make recommendations to further enhance the success of small businesses. The conference was organised by Business Innovation Programs (BIP) and Iraq’s Public Aid Organisation (PAO) in cooperation with Iraq’s Ministry of Labour & Social Affairs (MoLSA) and Iraq’s Ministry of Youth & Sports (MoYS) and held in Erbil on December 13th, 2012.
The conference was opened by the Ministry of Labour & Social Affair’s Deputy Minister, Mr. Dara Yara. The conference attracted over 60 delegates. Their number and calibre confirmed that the theme of the conference is very much in focus. The delegates covered a wide field of interests, and included key people from MoLSA, MoYS and other national and regional government agencies, UNIDO, UNFPA, ILO, IOM, local organisations, Labour and Vocational Training Centres and Small Business Development Project Trainers. The media, including television, were also present. Please download the full report with photos and the full 21 recommendations made by the Conferrence, all with a view to further enhancing the success of small businesses in Iraq and their importance in achieving the goals of the National Employment Policy. |
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BIP meets with the Deputy Minister of Labour & Social Affairs.
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Iraq’s First Small and Medium Sized New Business Fair in Bagdad
On November 5th, 2012, in cooperation with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA), Business Innovation Programs (BIP) from Norway organised Iraq’s First Small and Medium Sized New Business Fair in Bagdad. The New Business Fair was attended by over 20 different new start-up companies and a total of over 150 guests from various Government Offices, International Organisations, local NGOs and various other organisations were present. Amongst the guests were the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Nassar Al-Rubaiee; Director General Eng. Aziz I. Khalil from The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs; and Deputy Minister Abbas Al-Shammari from the Ministry of Youth and Sport.
In addition to the many stands and displays where the 20 new start-up companies presented their services and products, the New Business Fair’s program included a number of presentations and speeches. During his speech the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Nassar Al-Rubaiee, expressed his thanks to the Norwegian Foreign Office and the Norwegian Embassy for their help and support in creating a nationwide program whereby the BIP BPD (Business Plan Development) training is facilitating the creation of many new local companies and jobs all over the country. The Minister also expressed his hope that the number of local trainers in the BIP Business Plan Development training scheme will soon reach its target of 60 local trainers. Through the BPD scheme these trainers offer professional support to Small Business Loan Applicants by arranging qualifying courses and training that will help their new businesses to succeed. BIP reciprocated by giving thanks to Minister Nassar Al-Rubaiee and to the Norwegian Ambassador Petter Ølberg for their roles in helping develop a sustainable economy by supporting the scheme and helping to create a wide variety of local jobs all across the country. Representing the BPD scheme on behalf of MoLSA, Director General Eng. Aziz I. Khalil expressed his hope that the professional training put in place together with BIP will help qualify and prove the viability of new enterprises before they apply for Small Business Loans - as such financing needs to be targeted to those companies that have shown they have the greatest chance of success through the BPD scheme.
As part of the New Business Fair’s program, there was also a ceremony where 20 local BDP trainers from ten local BPD training centers all over Iraq received their formal Certification as trainers after having successfully completed the BIP BDP Train-the-Trainers program. The ten BDP Centers are located in Anbar, Bagdad (2), Basra, Karbala, Kirkuk, Kut, Mosul, Najaf and Nasrya.
All of the 20 start-up companies that exhibited their products and services had qualified to participate at the New Business Fair by having successfully completed the BIP BPD training program. They all had with them not only samples of their products and services, but also their business plans, budgets and action plans that they had put together with help from BIP and the training scheme. Many of the companies have already started production on a small scale to demonstrate that their business concepts are viable and that their products and services are of the highest quality. Most of them are now waiting to receive necessary and invaluable financing in the form of Small Business Loans. When these are in place it is expected that their businesses can really “take off” and they can realize the full potential of their business ideas and create many new jobs around the country.
In addition to the Ministers, Deputy Ministers, General Managers, International and National NGOs and other organisations attending the New Business Fair, were 11 BPD Center Managers, 20 BPD Trainers, 30 entrepreneurs from 20 start-ups and many others. At the New Business Fair a panel of four judges was responsible for evaluating all the new start-ups and awarding points so that winners could be chosen. The winners were: From Kut:
From Bagdad (1):
From Bagdad (2):
From Karbala:
The organisers of the Fair also have to thank the invaluable volunteer support staff:
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Training of Trainers Course in Erbil Among the ongoing activities of BIP in Iraq, there is a three step presentation of Business Plan Development being organized in Erbil for a group of trainers in the near future. The trainers intending to participate are from the Popular Aid Organization (PAO), and some of them have already taken part in PDP course and want to go further in completing the three steps. The first step in the presentation will discuss establishing small projects by going through and practicing the essential elements of a small project like expenses, products, competition, etc. The second step is about management and the steps that should be taken, while the third and the last step emphasizes and discusses techniques for giving presentations and speeches. The main goal of this activity is to prepare the trainers in the start-up of small business in the KRG. These trainers can then train young people to establish their own businesses. Sept. 2012 |
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Vocational Training Center in Nasrya ready for new around of BPD courses for Jobseekers. The Vocational Training Center in Nasrya is ready for making a new round of Business Plan Development courses. The jobseekers in the area have applied to participate in these courses because of the attractive presentation methods and easy use of the materials. Eng. Mohammed has already made two Business Plan Development (BPD) Courses at the Center. They are now equipping the BIP class room with everything ready for the next course and are in full activity making plans for the third BPD course says Eng. Mohammed.
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From Babel: Trainers from Ministry of Youth & Sport (G1) meet for their second training. 21 trainers from many Youth Centers gathered again in Babel for the second training in the ToT Program (Training of Trainers). These trainers are on their way to become the main group and basis for high quality training in "How to start your own small business". In this second training, held from the 14th to the 19th of July, 21 local trainers participated. During the workshops the following subjects were discussed; Small business budget; 12 month financial plans; cash flow; summary of business plan development; critical factors; and the To-Do list. At the same time the participants were instructed in how make a good Follow- Up system. All local trainers were given ample time to consolidate ideas and proposals as to how to develop the method of implementation of courses in all parts of Iraq. These ideas have been useful and work is in hand to adapt the program to the general culture of the target audience. Local trainers will soon now lead new session of courses in "How to start your own small business" at their centers. Young people and students are the target group for these courses. The Y&S Ministry, in collaboration with BIP, hopes to qualify a sufficient number of trainers to work in all youth centers affiliated to the ministry in record time. The same course will be organized for group 2 in August. Trainers of the future of Y&S Ministry:
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ALANBAR VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTER MADE BPD COURSE FOR 33 WOMEN
Mr. Fouad Jamil Abbas & Louai Najim Abdullah are local trainers at Alanbar Vocational Training. They recently carried out two Businnes Plan Develoment (BPD) courses for Jobseekers in the Alrumadi area.
Mr Fouad told us "There are so many Jobseekers applying to participate in these courses. In this, our second BPD course, 33 women participated. We have made the Business Innovation Program class room ready and will continue with our plans to have more BPD courses this year. Our goal is qualifying the BPD course participants so they can soon start their own small businesses."
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KIRKUK LABOR CENTRE READY FOR THIRD BPD COURSE Abbas Fadil Abbas and Shimal have already made two Business Plan Developemnt (BPD) Courses at the Kirkuk Labor Center. Mr. Abbas & Mr. Shimal have a very good collaboration with the centre manager Mr. Ahmad Ibrahim Ahmad. They are now equipping the BIP class room with everything ready for next courses and are in full activity and making plans for the third BPD course says Mr. Ahmad.
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ALSHOULA VOCATIONAL TRANING CENTRE START SECOND BPD COURSE Mrs. Bayader Zoher Jasem and Mr. Hussein Ali Abd are the local trainers for the Alshoula Vocational Centre. These two trainers joined the BIP qualifying process in February 2012. They started by implementing the Business Plan Development (BPD) courses in their centre in May 2012. These trainers, in collaboration with their managers, started equipping the BIP class room and introducing the BPD course participants. 20 participants were in each BPD course and the second BPD course started on 01 July, running until July 05.
Trainers and course participants together in the last days of BPD course.
Mrs. Bayader and Mr. Hussein greeting visitors from the Leadership Centre.
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From ERBIL: Trainers from Ministry of Labour & Social Affairs meet for their second training. 20 trainers from 10 Labour Centers gathered again in Erbil for the second training in the ToT Program. These trainers are on their way to become the main group and basis for high quality training in "How to start your own small business".
In this second training, held from the 04th to the 07th of June, 20 local trainers participated. During 28 hours of workshops the following subjects were discussed; Small business budget, 12 month financial plans, cash flow, summary of business plan development, critical factors and the To-Do list. At the same time the participants were instructed in how make a good Follow- Up system.
All local trainers were given ample time to consolidate ideas and proposals as to how to develop the method of implementation of courses in all parts of Iraq. These ideas have been useful and work is in hand to adapt the program to the general culture of the target audience.
Local trainers will soon now lead new session of courses in "How to start your own small business" at all 10 centers. |
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Dywania host ToT Course for MoYS Trainers In a cooperation between Ministry of Youth & Sport (MoYS) and the Norwegian Business Innovation Programs, the Directory of Cooperation & Follow-Up has held a Business Plan Development (BPD) course for 24 new local trainers. These local trainers came from Directory of Youth i Najaf, Dywania, Musol, Missan, Dhy Qar and Wasit. MoYS has 80 trainer candidates in 2012. The 80 candidates have all participated in the first stage of the qualifying process. Selection of the right candidates to continue their training will be completed before the start of the second stage of the ToT Program (Training of Trainers).
All course participants were happy with the good quality of the training and said "We wish continue with this program because it is good and fit for the young people that need it.
All the trainer candidates had the opportunity to organize a BPD course and implement the training for young people so as to identify their training abilities. The best candidates will continue and will be called in for the next course in July. |
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FIRST LOCAL ACTIVITY FOR MoLSA & MoYS LOCAL BUSINESS TRAINERS. Business Innovation Programs, in cooperation with Ministry of Labour & Social Affairs and the Ministry of Youth & Sport, started a Training of Trainers (ToT) program in April 2012 to qualify local trainers from both ministries. This cooperation is built on the basis of a Business Development and Job Creation project supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The main objective of Training of Trainers is to qualify local trainers in Iraq to how train job seekers in "How to start your own small business" and to support entrepreneurship. The trainers will then be able to activate their ministry’s programs in the best way and with a good quality level.
Trainer from MoLSA started implementing 10 practical courses for jobseekers registered in the data base in 10 Labuor centers in Iraq. These centers are located in Basra, Nasrya, Kut, Karbala, Najaf, Baghdad- Shoula, Baghdad- Rusafa, Anbar, Musol and Kirkuk. 184 participants attended these courses with many ideas for small businesses. A large number of these practical ideas were presented in productive workshops, especially the women’s ideas who represented 89 of total participants of the courses.
At the same time, the MoYS local trainers also started implementing Small Business courses in Youth Centers all over Iraq in May. These courses were for young people and for the clients of these Centers. The Qualifying Program will continue and all local trainer candidates will implement more Business Plan Development (BPD) courses. Following up the course participants will be given priority in the next period. |
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Trainers from Ministry of Youth & Sport in first step of ToT Program. A Five-day course in Najaf is the first step for long term cooperation program between the Ministry of Youth & Sport (Coordination & Follow-up Directorate) with Business Innovation Programs. The main goal of the ToT (Training of Trainers) program is to qualify and certify ministry trainers and to prepare them to be able to organize courses for young people to help them in establishing their own businesses, good entrepreneurship and thereby provide stable employment. Hussein F. Tahir, General Director BIP Iraq managed the first training from the 22th to the 27th of April at the Scientific Care Forum in Najaf when 20 future trainers participated. Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Project Management, and Practical Training in Business Innovation Programs methods and tools for business and project plan development were presented and discussed. The Ministry's plan spans several years and intends to have more than 500 certified trainers in all places and cities in Iraq using of Business Innovation Programs material and skills. The reach of the project will extend to include many thousands of young people in the program. After the first training course, all MoYS’s local trainers said "we are satisfied and motivated to complete the qualification process and to take place in the rebuilding phase of youth empowerment". |
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Training of Trainers for the Ministry of Labour in Erbil Business Innovation Programs (BIP) has organized the first training in cooperation with the Ministry for Labour and Social Affairs in Iraq. The aim is to educate Certified Entrepreneur Trainers in 10 geographical regions. The training is managed by Hussein F. Tahir, General Director BIP Iraq.
In this first training, completed from the 14th to the 19th of April, 20 employees and future trainers participated. During the 40 hours training the following subjects were introduced and discussed; Aim of the program, Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Introduction to Project Management, Introduction and Practical Training in the Business Innovation Programs methods and tools for business or project plan development. This involves working practically in describing and calculating a business or project idea. Subjects like business idea, personal qualifications, network, markets and customers, competition, financial calculations, laws and regulations, critical success factors are introduced, described, presented and discussed. Together with the Ministry for Labour and Social Affairs, Business Innovation Programs aims to establish 10 Entrepreneur Centers in Iraq, each providing business plan development training to the adult population in their region. The participants and future trainers are selected according to criteria`s such as education, motivation and ambition. When the certification training and certification process is completed, marketing of business plan development courses will start. |
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Training of Trainers in Erbil A five day entrepreneurship training was arranged in Erbil in February 2012 as a cooperation between Business Innovation Programs and the local NGO PAO. The target group was persons working with young people in the region. The aim is to establish a team of trainers offering business plan development courses to this target group. The participants were introduced to the Business Innovation Programs methods and tools for defining and developing a business or project idea.
After completing training and certification, the trainers will offer courses to young people in the region who have a project or business idea they want to realize. The Business Innovation Programs methods and tools all have a practical approach. After short introductions to the different topics, the participants describe, present and discuss their idea in plenum. Topics such as goals, personal qualifications, networks/who can help you, the importance of customer orientation, to be different than the competitors, financial calculations, relevant laws and regulations, critical technology and competency etc. The training was focused on Business Innovation Programs’ materials, which is basically strong and firm in the field of preparing programs for trainers courses how to establish successful small business projects. The main objective of this training is to prepare participants to be able to organize courses for young people to help them in establishing their own business and provide stable employment. |
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BUSINESS INNOVATION PROGRAMS
