Applications are now being accepted for the regional entrepreneurial initiatives competition

The project "Support for Local Economic Development in the Republic of Belarus" announces the acceptance of applications for a competition of entrepreneurial initiatives in 12 districts of Belarus. The winners of the competition will receive support in the form of goods, works, and/or services necessary for the implementation of entrepreneurial initiatives, in the amount of up to 25,000 US dollars.

 

The competition will be held in 12 pilot districts of the project:

• Brest region: Beryozovsky and Kobrinsky districts;

• Vitebsk region: Braslavsky and Orshansky districts;

• Gomel region: Braginsky, Zhlobinsky, and Khoyniksky districts;

• Grodno region: Lida district;

• Minsk region: Borisovsky and Molodechnensky districts;

• Mogilev region: Bykhovsky and Klichevsky districts.

The following can participate in the competition:

• Private legal entities registered in the Republic of Belarus, located in the territories of the competition districts;

• Individual entrepreneurs registered in the Republic of Belarus, located (residing) in the territories of the competition districts.

Applications for participation in the competition of entrepreneurial initiatives can be submitted on the website www.prospring.by. Applications are accepted from February 15, 2021 to March 30, 2021.

The first 240 applicants will have the opportunity to receive individual remote consultations from experts. Expert assistance will allow for a detailed analysis and better presentation of their business idea.

“Maximizing the potential of each district and leveraging it is one of the priorities of state policy and is in the focus of a number of state programs for the current five-year cycle. Within the framework of the project, we aim to support entrepreneurial initiatives aimed at implementing and developing advanced business models for the pilot districts, contributing to sustainable economic growth and improving the quality of life of the population in the regions,” commented the National Project Coordinator, Deputy Head of the Main Department of Regional Development and Property Relations – Head of the Property Relations Department of the Ministry of Economy, Irina Babachenok.

“This competition is a unique opportunity to support small businesses in the regions, including to minimize the risks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We know how difficult it is to decide to start your own business, and we want to support entrepreneurs, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of the regions, creating jobs and providing income to the population,” noted the Head of the European Union Delegation to Belarus, Dirk Schuebel.

“When starting a business or thinking about expanding it, an entrepreneur often faces a shortage of funds. Contest winners will be able to receive support totaling USD 1.7 million. Thus, we are creating favorable conditions for business development in the regions and supporting the sustainable economic development of the country,” noted the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in Belarus, Alexandra Solovyova.

The project “Support for Economic Development at the Local Level in the Republic of Belarus” is financed by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme in partnership with the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Belarus.