![SME friends have started operating in Agjabadi and Aghdam districts](https://smb.gov.az/storage/3927/1-Ağcabədi.jpg)
On March 15, the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA) organized meetings with entrepreneurs in Agjabadi and Aghdam regions of the Karabakh economic region, as well as SME friends started operating in the relevant regions.
Thus, the number of SME friends in the Karabakh economic region has reached 4. Currently, SME friends cover 30 cities and regions of the country.
The SME friend office in Aghdam region is located in the Heydar Aliyev Center, and in the Agjabadi region in the Flag Museum. Necessary conditions have been created in SME friend offices to support and provide services to entrepreneurs. Along with the SME friend, there are also "SME Volunteers" in the offices.
During the meetings with the heads of local executive authorities, entrepreneurs and representatives of relevant agencies serving them, the Chairman of the Board of SMBDA Orkhan Mammadov informed about the support and services provided by the Agency to SMEs, as well as the SME friend mechanism. It was noted that micro, small and medium-sized businesses can contact a SME friend on issues related to entrepreneurship. SME friends will provide comprehensive state support for the establishment of new businesses in the relevant regions and the development of existing SMEs, to this end, it will provide necessary support to entrepreneurs through existing state support mechanisms, including the Agency's services. SME friends will also take appropriate measures within the state-entrepreneur cooperation platform to protect the interests of entrepreneurs and address the challenges they face, will study the development needs and suggestions of entrepreneurs through surveys.
Noting that the SME friend network covers most cities and regions of the country, Orkhan Mammadov called on entrepreneurs to actively cooperate with SME friends.
It was also noted that issues related to investment in the liberated territories and the implementation of business projects are among the priorities of the Agency's strategic agenda in the future, and entrepreneurs wishing to do business in the Karabakh economic region can apply to SMBDA.
During the meetings, films were shown about the SME friends mechanism, the support provided by SMBDA to micro and small entrepreneurs, and questions of entrepreneurs were answered.
On the same day, the project "Youth Business Workshop" was launched in Agdam, and a meeting was held with young people involved in the project.
It should be noted that the "Youth Business Workshop" is implemented by SMBDA, the State Employment Agency and the State Agency for Vocational Education. The aim of the project is to develop business skills and encourage entrepreneurship among young people receiving vocational training, to ensure self-employment, and to increase the number of young people receiving vocational training among micro and small entrepreneurs. In April, SMBDA's SME Development Center will launch business trainings for young people receiving vocational education in the Aghdam region. The State Employment Agency will provide young people who successfully complete the training with appropriate equipment in their chosen areas of activity.
Powered by Froala Editor