UNECE-WYB JOINT MISSION TO BELARUS TO ASSIST IN DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP

UNECE-WYB JOINT MISSION TO BELARUS TO ASSIST

IN DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 17 September -- At the invitation of Mr.Vladimir Konopljov, Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus,the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the World Youth Bank (WYB) made a joint advisory mission to Minsk to explore the current youth situation and to advise the Parliament, government authorities and non-governmental organizations how to develop youth entrepreneurship.  The mission was also to advise on the creation a Youth Entrepreneurship Development Centre (YEDC) within the framework of national entrepreneurship, as well as youth policies.  Prof. Rachel Golden (United States), Vice-Chair of the Team of Specialists on Entrepreneurship on Poverty Alleviation, and Prof. Sonia Heptonstall (United Kingdom), a member of the same Team, were also members of the delegation.

Mr. Vladimir Konopljov drew attention to the fact that out of the 110 MPs there are 30 businessmen in the current National Assembly, which indicates that private business is increasing even though the share of the SME sector of GDP is still modest –- less than 7 per cent –- and the number of employees in SMEs is around 8-10 per cent.

Discussions were held on the establishment of a Belarusian branch of the World Youth Bank in Minsk.  Mr. Tomislaw Bogdanic, President of the WYB, stated that “Belarus is a country of great natural and human resources and potential, which deserves and needs urgent national development and international recognition.  As the country’s future lies in the hands of its youth, we at the WYB hope that through activities of our Belarusian Office, in cooperation with the UNECE and other international organizations, we will succeed to produce and boost the needed synergy between the Government, private businesses and civil society”.

Prof. Rachel Golden emphasized that “the pocketbook”, or knowledge, without leadership can be detrimental in a dynamic, rapidly changing business landscape.  However, leadership without “the pocketbook” can lead to the acquisition of knowledge and skills necessary to plant and harvest successful economic opportunities.  Discussion with members of the Belarusian Government, youth groups, and civil society provided strong evidence that the creation of a YEDC would promote the development of Belarusian youth “leaders”, stimulate business investment, create youth employment, and provide opportunity for continuous learning about changing markets and entrepreneurial thinking.

According to Mr. Antal Szabó, Regional Adviser on Entrepreneurship and SMEs of the UNECE, “the primary tasks of a newly created YEDC would be (i) training/retraining/improvement of skills of young entrepreneurs; (ii) business consultancy on legal issues, registration, and how to start a business; as well as (iii) business incubation and sources of funding.  All these activities will be developed in close cooperation with the UNDP Office at Belarus, as well as with the WYB”.

The Delegation visited the Mogylev Region and Slavgorod City, one of the regions that suffered enormous damage following the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster 17 years ago.  Belarus is taking practical steps to implement a new approach through the programme “Cooperation for Rehabilitation” (CORE) jointly with the United Nations Office in Minsk.  The UNECE was asked to explore the possibility of joining this programme by developing a project on social entrepreneurship aimed at social and psychological rehabilitation and at developing young social entrepreneurship.

For further information, please contact:

Antal Szabó

Regional Adviser on Entrepreneurship and SMEs

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

Palais des Nations, Bureau 440

CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Phone:+ 41(0)22 917 24 71

Telefax:    + 41(0)22 917 01 78

E-mail:antal.szabo@unece.org

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