November 8, 2007

ACDI/VOCA Conducts First EDTP Business Workshop

In Azerbaijan the first of a series of workshops under ACDI/VOCA’s Enterprise Development and Training Program (EDTP) was held at the Enterprise Centre on October 30. EDTP staff laid out the program's goals and described its process to the 18 representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises in attendance. A Q&A session followed.

Attendees then wrote down what most interested them in the program by filling in an "expression of interest" document. Next ACDI/VOCA will assess local firms’ competitiveness, arrive at plans to develop their capabilities and ascertain the financial commitment required.

EDTP was launched in June by BP and its co-venturers in oil-and-gas projects in Azerbaijan. It is a three-year, multimillion-dollar initiative supporting local business development. The program is part of BP’s efforts to increase the local base of its contracts in Azerbaijan, thereby contributing to the healthy and transparent development of the local economy. BP, on behalf of its co-venturers, conducted a competitive tender process and selected ACDI/VOCA to implement the program.

To learn more about ACDI/VOCA’s work in Azerbaijan, please click here.