AICS and UNIDO promote entrepreneurship and coaching for small entrepreneurs engaged in the agro-business sector

In July and August 2019 UNIDO carried out two study tours for Sudanese technicians and professionals within the framework of three-year project “Fostering Inclusive Economic Growth in Kassala State Through Agro-value Chains Development and Access to Financial Services” AID 11259 funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and implemented by UNIDO.

The first study tour took place in Italy in collaboration with the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and trained five Sudanese technicians on the installation and maintenance of refrigeration systems. Afterwards, the trained technicians will be involved in the installation and maintenance of a cold storage facility in Kassala financed by the Italian Cooperation in collaboration with UNIDO, the Ministry of Production and Economic Resources of Kassala and the Federal Ministry of Industry and Trade. The cold storage will increase the shelf-life of local fruits and vegetables, thereby increasing their market value for the benefit of the small-holder farmers in Kassala

The second study tour took place in Bahrain and involved eight public and private sector professionals from Kassala such as ministerial staff, the University of Kassala, agricultural producers’ associations and representatives of some local financial institutions. The tour was organized by UNIDO in collaboration with UNIDO ITPO Bahrain and consisted in a training of trainers on entrepreneurship and coaching for small entrepreneurs engaged in the agro-business sector. This activity is preparatory to the launch of a facility to support small agro-processing entrepreneurs in the State of Kassala through entrepreneurial training services and financial support, with particular attention towards women and young entrepreneurs