OSCE Office in Baku promotes entrepreneurship in Azerbaijan's regions

SHEKI, Azerbaijan, 26 October 2009 - The OSCE Office in Baku opened a "train the trainers" workshop in Sheki today with the aim of developing entrepreneurship training and supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises in Azerbaijan.

The workshop for 12 business instructors is organized in co-operation with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Baku Business Training Centre of the Ministry of Economic Development, in accordance with the Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) concept, designed and implemented internationally by the ILO.

"SME development is of particular importance to Azerbaijan as it seeks to diversify the economy to non-oil sectors and to regions outside Baku," said Ambassador Bilge Cankorel, the Head of the OSCE Office in Baku, in his opening speech.

"International experience shows that SMEs are often a driving force in bringing about innovation and competition which, in turn, can very powerfully advance economic diversification."

Following the workshop, the participating business instructors will train 180 new entrepreneurs.

The OSCE Office in Baku has been engaged in entrepreneurship and business training in Azerbaijan since 2007. Earlier SIYB roll-outs were conducted with the Office's support in 2007-2008, mainly in Ganja and its neighbouring regions. The Office also supported private farmers as well as food processing and wholesale companies to develop marketing, financing and production plans.