The Association of Employers and Entrepreneurs of the Vitebsk Region will hold a series of seminars in districts where business development is less active

The Vitebsk Region Employers' and Entrepreneurs' Association is implementing a number of projects aimed at increasing the economic activity of the population.

It is in this way, for the benefit of the region, by utilizing the potential of the association's members, that the association will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its activities. The anniversary itself will take place in May 2014, but the projects are already being implemented. As noted by the association's executive director, Nina Lukyanova, the organization has strengthened, its active members have been formed, and new people are joining – socially responsible entrepreneurs with interesting projects.

For example, association members will participate in the project "Support for Home-Based Self-Employment". It is envisaged by the cross-border cooperation program of Belarus, Latvia, and Lithuania within the framework of the European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument. The project is aimed at developing handicrafts. Meetings are planned to explain the legislation on carrying out this type of activity, and the creation of a trilingual internet portal for artisans from the three countries to communicate, showcase, and sell their products. A seminar for artisans is planned in Vitebsk and Latvia.

The association's victory in the small grants competition for projects to strengthen entrepreneurship has become significant. In the near future, a project will be implemented aimed at improving the efficiency of the Employers' and Entrepreneurs' Association in the districts of the Vitebsk Region. For this purpose, as Nina Lukyanova explained, 4 regions will be selected where private business is developing least actively. After studying and analyzing the situation, a series of seminars and trainings on problematic issues will be organized there.

Dmitry Talan, an association member and executive director of the Decomir group of companies, a business trainer in team building, is implementing the "Business Youth" project, which includes a series of free seminars for high school students in Vitebsk.

In addition, the "Best Employer of Vitebsk" will be named based on the results of 2013. The award, organized in 2012 by the Vitebsk City Executive Committee, the internet portal "RabotaVitebsk.by", and the Association of Employers and Entrepreneurs, will continue. However, the format will change slightly: a job fair with employer presentations and master classes for job seekers will be held additionally.

The project “Woman. Business. Vitebsk”, aimed at increasing women's economic activity, will help women realize their potential. There are certainly role models to follow. Larisa Petrushenko, director of the company “Fenek” and owner of the restaurant “Lyamus”, and Lyudmila Prokofieva, chairperson of the board of the local Charitable Foundation for Spiritual Revival, well-known in the city, initiated the idea of holding a “round table” on the topic “On improving the interaction between state administration bodies, public associations, businesses, and the media in solving the problems of people with limited mobility”.

Olga Maslovskaya, "Vitebskiye Vesti"