The second edition has begun with an exciting 3-day business camp with 68% participation of young people were 30% accounted for women. Over 35 shortlisted participants now have the opportunity to develop their talent ideas and commercialize them after received training on business development which has helped them overcome challenges such as Challenge and problem identification, solution design, business operations, marketing and financial management are the lessons of the training. Through these dynamic exercises and team-building games, UNDP specialized officers have been able to provide to the youth of Oé-cusse an environment where they can confidently innovate their ideas.

The aim of the second cycle of the OBI Programme is to focus the attention on the youth of Oé-Cusse and ensure they take an active role in the development of the region. During the inauguration of the business camp the President of Authority of RAEOA – ZEESM TL, HE Dr. Mari Alkatiri, stated that: “The Oé-Cusse Business Incubator is not only about money, it is a tool to empower people so that they can become entrepreneurs”.

The UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Roy Trivedy, had the pleasure of attending the last day of the workshop in Oé-Cusse. After seeing the active participation and enthusiasm of all the entrepreneurs, Mr. Trivedy encouraged them to achieve their objectives despite the difficulties encountered on the way:  “You have to persevere but if your idea is not going to succeed, it is better to fail quickly, to make that decision and try something else”. 

The OBI programme was a strategy created in 2017 by the Regional Secretary of Community Tourism in RAEOA – ZEESM TL, with the support of UNDP, aimed at fostering sustainable livelihoods in Oé-Cusse through Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) development and at building regional capacity to promote a business enabling environment. During the first edition, the OBI programme trained 94 entrepreneurs and supported 10 new business which received access to capital for investment.

This year, over 20 new businesses from different sectors registered in the OBI programme such as waste recycling, tour operators, a beauty and digital photography.. The Regional Secretary of Community Tourism, Ms. Inácia Teixeira, stated that: “In the first edition of the OBI programme we had a low young participation, so this time we have encouraged the  young sector of Oé-Cusse to participate in the programme, because they can provide innovative and creative ideas and they have good educational levels”.

UNDP and RAEOA-ZEESM TL specialized officers are currently analyzing all for the next phase and will announce the selected businesses in the coming days. This process is evident of the local growth in industries within the industry in the region of Oé-cusse.