30,000 rural Kazakhs to learn basics of entrepreneurship

ASTANA – According to the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, in 2018, 30,000 people will receive entrepreneurial training and 6,000 of them will launch businesses after completing the entrepreneurial programme.

Close-up of businesspeople hands holding pens and papers near table at business seminar

Photo credit: embercarriers.com

The initiative part of the Bastau-Business project, which is part of the second direction of the Productive Employment and Mass Entrepreneurship Development programme. The project will teach the basics of entrepreneurship to unemployed and self-employed people in rural areas. Among other things, they will learn how to develop a business plan and start an agricultural cooperative.

In 2017, more than 15,000 people in 80 districts of the country were trained. Approximately 3,300 of them opened or improved their businesses. More than 2,450 projects were opened through concessional loans with interest rates of 6 percent. More than 700 projects were launched with the private funds of entrepreneurs. Eighty percent of businesses were in agriculture and 20 percent were in trade and the service sector.

This year, the project will expand to 160 districts and towns. Courses will be offered to individuals and groups. Course length is one month. The total amount of hands-on learning will be 80 hours per group course. In individual courses of 120 hours, aspiring entrepreneurs will receive consultations on business plan preparations and business project development.

Training will be provided by experienced business coaches using interactive and advanced teaching methods.

“This year we trained 160 coaches. They are all professionals. Most of them were involved in entrepreneurship, that means they can share personal experience and provide efficient support,” said the chamber’s Director of Department for Development of Business Communications in State Language Bauyrzhan Orazgaliyev.

Course registration is open to residents of rural areas, who live in district centres or small villages, unemployed or self-employed citizens who would like to kick-start their business ideas. Active entrepreneurs who are looking to expand their businesses can also participate.


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