Бизнес

The project "Employment through Business Support" ("Jobs") turned one year and last week made its tally. "Jobs" is a project of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, supported by the United Nations Development Programme. It works in 24 municipalities with high unemployment, including Velingrad through the Center for Business and Information (CBI) and the Agency for Regional Development (ARD). Job's business centers offer a complex business service (preparation of documentation, development of a business plan, provision of market information, building of web-pages and many others).

One of the most successful Jobs activities is the microfinance through leasing scheme. In 2001 29 companies totaling BGN 557,288 have been granted leasing loans under this scheme, through which 223 permanent jobs have been created. More than indicative is the fact that almost 50% of this large amount was allocated through the Velingrad Business Center. Recognition for the good work in Velingrad is the fact that in principle each business center manages an annual resource of 160 000 leva, and for Velingrad the amount is 216,000 leva, announced the head of the CBI and RDA Svetlana Papukchieva. Over 1100 people are trained in specialized seminars on various topics, including "Start your own business", aimed directly at the unemployed. Another successful manifestation of "Jobs" is the organized Christmas bazaar of crafts, in which companies from Velingrad and the municipality took part. Thanks to the project, local companies also show their production in the open-air to the British Embassy in Sofia store "Tradition". "Jobs" will continue its activities in 2002 on the territory of the same municipalities. The ambitious plans of the project are to help create about 5,000 new jobs and train about 6,000 people in the fields of entrepreneurial skills, computer literacy and foreign languages. Tempo