Successful completion of the 5th Loden Entrepreneurship Training Programme
Weekend is usually observed as one of the best times in Bhutan where most of the office goers and business people relax with their family and go for picnics in different places. However, every year the Loden Foundation brings young potential entrepreneurs at least twice a year together for its bi-annual entrepreneurship training programme which we hold mostly during the weekends. This year, Loden Foudation conducted its 5th training workshop on 16 and 17 April at the Institute of Management Studies, Thimphu where 58 aspiring entrepreneurs from different regions of Bhutan took part in it.
As usual, the two day training was delivered by a well-built pool of international and local business professionals. The participants were educated on the fundamental aspects of entrepreneurship such as how to write good business proposals, tips to become successful entrepreneurs, operations and workforce, marketing and competition, financial analysis and etc. "I run a small business. I came to attend LEP workshop to learn about marketing skills so that I can run my business successfully", said Sonam Dema, one of the participants who came from Paro.
During the training programme, participants were also trained on the importance of business mentors and its benefits by the co-ordinator of the Loden Foundation. Rinzing Dema, the programme officer of the Loden Foundation presented to the participants about the LEP scheme and opportunities that the LEP plans to provide in 2011. "I have been relaying on others to write a business plan for me and now am confident that I can write one for myself. I am going to submit a business proposal in the forth coming LEP capital fund competition" said Kumar Kharka Dorji who came to attend the programme from Phutsholing. The organizer invited some of its successful entrepreneurs to share their experiences.
Business proposals will be invited from the interested entrepreneurs from the 1st week of May until 31 August 2011. The successful business proposal will compete for the interest free loan ranging from one hundred thousand to one million ngultrum. Loden plans to hold similar entrepreneurship training workshop in Samdrup Jongkhar sometime in October, 2011. Ashi Kunzang Choden (Director/Trustee) and Dasho Meghraj Gurung (Trustee) were also present during the workshop.