Oé-Cusse, Timor-Leste (August 19, 2021): On Monday August 9, 2021 the Regional Secretary for Commerce and Industry of RAEOA Mr. Pedro da Cunha B. da Silva formally opened the Oé-Cusse Incubator Business Incubator (OBI) Business Plan Camp in Maxorilin Hotel, Pante Macassar, Oé-Cusse. The OBI programme was established by RAEOA-ZEESM TL, through the Regional Secretary of Commerce and Industry in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The aim of the programme is to foster sustainable livelihoods in Oé-Cusse through small and medium enterprises (SMEs) development, and to build regional capacity to promote an enabling business environment.

The first batch of the Business Plan Camp was held from 09 until 13 August 2021, with 29 persons in attendance made up of 13 females and 16 males, and 68 per cent of the participants were under 35. The participants came from Nitibe, Baoknana, and Pante Macassar sub-region. The second batch of the on-going Business Plan Camp has started on 16 August and will be completed on 20 August. The second batch initially was to be attended by 30 persons, but due to latest Covid-19 situation the local government decided to cancel participants from Oesilo and Passabe sub-districts to attend. Hence, only 22 attending the on-going business camp, with 14 females and 8 males, and 40 per cent are under 35. All of the participants come from Pante Macassar sub-district.

During the business camps, participants are furnished with necessary knowledge and skills to start and manage their businesses in sustainable manners. The training covers a number of business topics such as marketing mixed and research, sales plan, staffing, costing, financial planning, start-up capital, cash flow plan, and lending requirements which delivered by BNCTL. 

Immediately after the business camps, the graduates are expected to finalize their business plans within 10 working days with support of 9 OBI’s local volunteers who are also participated in the business camps. After finalizing their business plans, the entrepreneurs will present their business ideas and plan in front of a panel of experts. Entrepreneurs with best business ideas and plans will be awarded with in-kind prizes according to the nature of their businesses.

At the opening ceremony of the Business Camp, the representative of UNDP in RAEOA, Mr. Augustine Santhiapillai (officer in charge) emphasized that as entrepreneurs participants should have dreams and take actions to realizes them. He also mentioned that the entrepreneurs may start with small actions but always think big. At the same occasion, the Regional Secretary for Commerce and Industry of RAEOA Mr. Pedro da Cunha B. da Silva encouraged participants to fully engage in the training so that they could acquire the requisite skills and knowledge to start and manage their businesses in sustainable manner.

For further information on the business camp contact Mr. Samuel Poli at samuel.poli@undp.org or 78458334.