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October 4, 2016

Migrant & Local Entrepreneurs in Erbil Receive Business Training

In Erbil, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq (KRI), a second successful SPARK entrepreneur-training began on 7th September.

ASH_2654As a result of promotion at an earlier entrepreneur event of SPARK’s Migrant Entrepreneurship Programme (MEP), more than 130 interested start-ups and entrepreneurs applied for the programme! It took a thorough selection process to narrow the applicants down to 30 business ideas so the successful parties were enthusiastic to begin the course.

The MEP training is incredibly diverse in the topics it covers. Therefore, a wide range of businesses were represented within the course; from barbers to photographers, tailors to caterers, traders and more! The programme also invited both migrant entrepreneurs and local entrepreneurs, which encouraged interesting discussions amongst the participants. Due to their varying backgrounds and ideas, the entrepreneurs could complement each other well, making the training even more informative. The local entrepreneurs were from in and around Erbil, Soran and Rawanduz, whilst the migrant entrepreneurs were predominantely of Syrian origin.

ASH_2674The interactive training enabled the 30 budding entrepreneurs to solidify their business plans and to learn how to further expand their businesses, by focusing on the important processes required for business-creation. Regah Mohammed, one of the participants, said:

Access to finance is necessary in order to expand my business.

On 21st September – the last day of the training – the director of the Directorate Fund to Support Small Projects for Youth visited the entrepreneurs and gave an inspiring talk about the role of the Directorate Fund in the project. He went on to give further information about the opportunities to apply for a loan after completing market research and finalising a business plan.

All 30 of the entrepreneurs successfully completed the training and received official certifications of their participation. SPARK wishes to congratulate them and wishes them all the best in their future careers.

The training was organised by the SPARK team, based in Erbil, with the cooperation of the Erbil Chamber of Commerce and Industry and WWB Consultancy.

See more pictures of the event here.

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