Young people who want to start businesses can win grants of €3,000 to 10,000

The National Association of Young Managers of Moldova (ANTiM) in February-June will hold the eighth national contest of business plans for young people. The contest is organized in cooperation with Junior Chamber International Moldova and for the first time is supported by the Foundation “Argidius”. Nineteen winners of the contest will receive grants of 3,000 to 10,000 to start or develop a business, Info-Prim Neo reports. ANTiM head Aurelia Braguta said the aim of this contest is to support the ideas of the young people who want to start their own business, contributing thus to the country’s social-economic development. “The contest is open to young people aged between 18 and 35, who want to start a business or to develop the existing one,” Aurelia Braguta told a news conference. She also said that in the previous contests the winners received money awards of only several thousand euros. “From this year, the grant will represent 70%. The other 30% will be paid back into the contest’s development fund one year after the money is obtained. We hope that this will make the contest participants more responsible and their businesses will be successful,” said Aurelia Braguta. The contest will take place in five stages. Until March 22, the young people can apply through www.cbp.antim.org. In the second stage, there will be selected 50 persons who, during two months, will be trained to start a business and to work out a business plan. Afterward, there will be chosen 19 finalists, based on the business plans designed by them. The finalists will be awarded in the fifth stage, within the Business Ideas Gala. ”Young people from all cover the country can take part in the contest. We also try to attract young persons from the Transnistrian region,” said the head of ANTiM. Of the 19 finalists, one person will receive the Top Prize of €10,000, three persons will get by €,7,000, five persons by €5,000, while another ten persons by €3,000. The criteria for selecting the best business plans include the innovatory character and creativity of the business.