SMEs Development Agency continues to support artisans
By Leman Mammadova
The Agency for Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) continues its support to population in implementing their entrepreneurial activities.
The Agency, along with other entrepreneurs, provides support to masters of decorative and applied arts who glorify the history and culture of Azerbaijan through their products.
Javid Eyyubov is one of these artisans, who appealed to the Agency for support in promotion and sale of his works, as well as in participation in exhibitions.
With the Agency’s help, the woodcarver was able to exhibit his products at the National Nomadic Culture Festival in Gadabay.
“At the National Nomadic Culture Festival, my handicrafts aroused particular interest among local and foreign guests. They showed high interest particularly in works related to the monuments of Azerbaijan and national musical instruments,” said Eyyubov. “The exhibition was useful in terms of popularizing the art of wood carving and promoting my works.”
This year, the SME Development Agency supported many artisans, providing them with opportunity to participate in a number of exhibitions and festivals organized in Baku and the regions, as well as with promoting and marketing their products and helping expand business ties.
The main task of the Agency is ensuring the succession of reforms, improvement of the business regulation system, and application of effective coordination, enhancing the role and competitiveness of SMEs in the country's economy, as well as the compliance of the management system in this area with modern requirements.
The Agency is interested in implementation of joint projects with UNDP in the area of improving the knowledge and skills of entrepreneurs, expanding opportunities for young people, women and people with disabilities to participate in business in the regions of Azerbaijan.
The expansion of self-employment programs in the country also allows involving many people to participate in SMEs.
Self-employment programs are primarily focused on the unemployed, people with disabilities and young people who are looking for an opportunity to apply their forces in business.
Self-employment allows unemployed citizens to exercise their right to socially useful activity. At the same time, the society receives initiative workers, who abandoned the passive-dependent expectation and began active creative work, realized themselves as individuals.
The self-employment program has been implemented in Azerbaijan since 2016. As part of these measures, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population provides low-income families with various assets (goods, materials, livestock) so that they can start their small business.
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Leman Mammadova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @leman_888
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