Small Success Stories from Dilijan

"I discovered that my service fee is less than its cost price," said Zina Chibukhchyan, a woman entrepreneur and a B&B guesthouse owner from Dilijan town of Armenia. Before joining "Successful Start" training program she was quite sure that the only precondition for the success of her business is involvement of additional financial resources. "Each year I have to take additional credits to survive but at the end of the year I have had to confess that there is no considerable progress in my business". The entrepreneur had never thought that before any investment a start-up should conceive elementary skills in business calculation and understand the environment in which it operates. As she stated at the end of the program "Now I am completely contaminated with entrepreneurial spirit which eventually urged me to write my own business plan". And this achievement she and the other participants unanimously attributed to the Program and especially the passion of experts working with them.

From April 25 to May 25, 2009 Armenian Young Women Association (AYWA), Gegharkunik Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) with ProSME support implemented the "Successful Start" program in Dilijan town of Tavush marz, where several other success stories were called to life.

"Successful Start" program is designed to promote the start-up entrepreneurs. It is based on CEFE (Competency Based Economies, Formation of Enterprise) methodology. It is a concept based on the assumption that the enrichment of society is essentially depending on competency based business doing. Training of start-up entrepreneurs with CEFE methodology includes a practical business training, business consultation and loan provision.

Nine out of ten participants of the program presented their business plans at the end of the event. Six start-ups received loans from GCCI Start-up Fund. Women entrepreneurs presented seven of nine business plans. It is for sure that high level of women participation in the program will positively impact an emerging process of women leaders` involvement in SME sector in Dilijan.

Growing women leadership in business could be considered as another achievement of the Program.

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