Azerbaijan: EU-funded project supporting small family businesses in Sheki-Zaqatala closes its activities
- Economic development & market opportunities
- Employment and entrepreneurship
- Agriculture and rural development
- Mobility & people-to-people contacts
- Education and vocational training
On 2 July, an official ceremony was held in Sheki, Azerbaijan, to mark the successful completion of the ‘Support to Small Family Businesses in Sheki-Zaqatala’ project, funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with ABAD Regional Centre in Balakan under the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations.
Since the project was launched in 2017, support was provided for 44 rural families to start up or expand their own local businesses. These families were provided with trainings, which covered business development and planning, branding and sales, financial accounting and legal services, also packaging, food safety, logistics, communication and international trading. On successful completion of these courses, the beneficiaries were eligible to apply for vital equipment and supplies. Some 200 people have benefited directly from this project, 22 of the 44 new businesses are led by women and 12 by internally displaced persons.
The new businesses vary from food production to decorative arts and crafts. All products will be available for purchase in the ABAD ethno-boutiques and in some of the larger supermarket chains in the country.
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