Times of Swaziland Published: February 9, 2007 By: Nomile Hlatshwayo Those aspiring people who did not get a chance to enter the Business Plan Competition should gear themselves to seize the opportunity this year, as a second competition will be launched in April. BPC Manager Nelo Sibandze said whilst the post-competition phase was on-going, TechnoServe will launch the second business plan competition in April with the opening of the application period. ‘This year the core training has been extended to eight weeks as compared to last year’s five weeks. This is so because the trainings will only be conducted on Saturdays,” she said. Believe Begin Become aims at identifying new business ideas and turn them into sustainable businesses that will create employment opportunities. It also targets existing businesses to graduate them from micro to small and medium sized businesses. It is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), designed, managed and executed by TechnoServe. Eligibility to the competition (in 2006) Swazi citizen or permanent Swazi resident 18 years and older Proposed new business that is based in Swaziland or expansion of existing business Minimum of investment base of E400 000 Annual sales of E600 000 by end of fourth year of operation In two years, concept should be able to generate at least 10 new jobs.
