Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), oil giant BP and the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) signed a document on launching a new project to support young business leaders in Baku on Thursday.

The total value of the two-year Youth Business Leadership Project (YBLP) is $200,000 of which $100,000 will be paid by BP and its co-venturers and the remaining $100,000 by USAID.

The project, created in support of the next generation Azerbaijani business leaders' professional development, will be implemented by Junior Achievement Azerbaijan, a local non-governmental organization.

Attending the signing ceremony, US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Richard Morningstar said one of the most important aspects of the program is its focus on young women. According to him, the project aims for 60 percent of the internships to benefit women.

The YBLP's primary aim is to empower 120 third and fourth-year Baku and Ganja university business students to become entrepreneurs and future business leaders by providing them with opportunities to gain real world employment experience especially through internships at various private companies, professional development workshops and role models, who will provide students with advice and guidance.