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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 13. bp and
Azerbaijan's Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA)
have sighed a Memorandum of Understanding, trend reports.
The memorandum was signed by bp Vice President for
Communications and External Relations in the Caspian and Middle
East region Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli and Chairman of the Management
Board of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of
Azerbaijan Orkhan Mammadov.
The memorandum provides for the implementation of two
projects.
The first project is designed for 20 months with a
total value of 495,000 manat ($291,176). It is directed at support
of developing youth entrepreneurship in rural areas including
communities in the Samukh, Goranboy and Shamkir districts.
This project is based on a three-stage development
program. At the first stage, it is planned to select
business-oriented young people from low-income families and train
them in preparation for their future business activities. Further,
at the second stage, they will be provided with the necessary
equipment and tools to start a small business. At the third stage,
project participants will be able to effectively use mentoring
programs, as well as the received knowledge and skills. The project
will be implemented by the 'Support for Rural Development' public
union.
The second project is designed for one year, and its
total value is 100,000 manat ($588,230). The project is aimed at
the development of agricultural tourism in the Tovuz district. In
addition, it provides for the creation of the potential for
generating income and employment opportunities for low-income
families.
As part of the second project, training and mentoring
support will be provided for the staff of 20 people from seven
service providers in the field of agrotourism, as well as the
necessary equipment and tools for doing business will be provided.
The project will be implemented by the 'Regional Development'
public union.
bp is a participant in major oil and gas projects in
Azerbaijan. In particular, bp is the operator of the
Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli block development project and the Shah Deniz
gas-condensate field.
The British company is also a participant in such
pipeline projects as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum
and works on such promising structures as Block D230 and
Shafag-Asiman [complex of offshore geological structures].
bp's extensive social investment activities and
capacity-building efforts in the country have had a positive impact
and brought tangible benefits to people, improving their lives and
making a difference.