This is abridged translation of story published in Vysoky Val, a Chernihiv newspaper.
Permanent URL of the story (in Ukrainian):
http://sian-ua.info//index.php?module=pages&act=page&pid=10747
A Business Support Center was opened in Pryluky under the auspices of B.A.T. Ukraine
The Business Support Center in Pryluky was inaugurated on Sept. 4, 2007. The Center was established with the purpose of providing accounting and legal advice to local entrepreneurs as well as developing their professional skills through relevant workshops.
The founder of the facility is the Pryluky City Rada Economic Development Department. British American Tobacco Ukraine sponsors the new institution by funding the operation of legal and accounting advisors as well as organization and holding of workshops for entrepreneurs to increase the efficiency of their business and customer services. The US Peace Corps has provided furniture, computer equipment, and software.
Individual entrepreneurs and persons wishing to register as such will be able to receive free professional advice in the Center and attend workshops, where professional trainers in business development will share their experience and give profitable advices.
Says B.A.T. Ukraine Deputy Executive Director Oleh Yason:
"Collaboration between the Pryluky community and the company has been going on for a long time, and today's opening of the Center is one more successful example of this collaboration. It is my belief that the Business Support Center operation will be successful, because the practice of operation of similar centers in other Ukrainian regions has proven that they are needed and important."
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Note
In September 2005, the Pryluky government with participation of public and business circles in the city and with assistance from the USAID Local Economic Development (LED) project drafted and approved an Economic Development Strategic Plan, which shows long-term development priorities of the local community.
In February 2006, B.A.T. Ukraine signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Pryluky community providing for development of long-term partnership between the city and the company in implementation of the Strategic Plan.
Within the framework of the Strategic Plan, the company together with the Pryluky City Rada Executive Committee and the LED project worked out and began implementing a Municipal Marketing Program. The program provides for creation of a city marketing system to actively attract external investment and foster local business. Major steps in the project include the development and production of printed information materials for investors, creation of a Pryluky web portal, and production of CD's with information on the city. B.A.T. Ukraine provides financial and expert support to the Program.
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B.A.T. Pryluky Press Service, Sept. 5 | 11:10
