JCI launches business plan competition

Junior Chamber International (JCI)-Rwanda, in collaboration with the National University of Rwanda (NUR), SPARK and BiD Network, has launched a business plan competition. The contest, dubbed “Terimbere Best Business Plan Competition”, aims at promoting young practising entrepreneurs, mainly in Small and Medium Enterprises as well as empowering those with business ideas implement them through start up capital. Addressing journalists, JCI president, Lydia Hakizimana, said the competition would benefit those with start-up capital demand between US$5,000 and US$1million, based on a participant`s proposal. “After selecting those with the best ideas, we shall train them on how to come up with good business plans,” Hakizimana said. To enter the competition, one has to visit www.jci.cc/rwanda to apply and wait for selection. The launch attracted young business persons, students from various universities across the country and some entrepreneurs. The Country Manager of SPARK, Nebojsa Simic, encouraged those present to embark on job creation, saying it is the right means towards fighting poverty. “Self employment is what will help in solving the unemployment problem to involve the youth in national development,” Simic said. The Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Protais Mitali, who was the chief guest, promised to work closely with JCI, saying it actively contributes to the success of government programs. “When youths start SME`s, they provide employment for themselves and their activities greatly contribute towards the growth of the national economy,” Mitali said. Ends