BISHKEK (TCA) — The University of Central Asia’s (UCA) School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE) organised an event on March 28 where 30 alumni of UCA’s entrepreneurship programme pitched business project ideas and competed for financial awards. The eight best pitches received grants from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for further business development. Winning projects include bakery and pastry shops, souvenir production, women’s clothing, and furniture businesses.
The entrepreneurship programme was launched by UCA’s SPCE in January 2019 for young entrepreneurs aged 18-28 with a business idea for developing a startup. The programme was offered to participants free-of-charge, and provided an opportunity for the entrepreneurs to increase their awareness about the entrepreneurial world, and learn how to run a successful business. Participants from several regions, including Osh, Naryn, Kochkor, Suzak, Bazar-Korgon, Aravan as well as Bishkek, underwent intensive training with leading trainers and speakers of Kyrgyzstan’s business sphere.
The award judges included representatives from the State Agency of Youth, Sport and Cultural Affairs of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, USAID, Mountain Societies Development Support Programme, University of Central Asia, Accelerate Prosperity, Competitive Enterprises Project, and CAMPNI.
The event and training were organised in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan by UCA’s SPCE as part of the “Demilgeluu Jashtar” project, and funded by USAID Kyrgyzstan. The project aims to train 400 young people qualified to undergo the entrepreneurship programme and distribute grants to the most promising business ideas.
