As part of the event, another group of winners of the Incentive Awards competition received additional equipment to expand their businesses.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population organised another awareness meeting in Shamkir under the Employment Support Project, implemented with financial support from the World Bank.

The event was attended by Hasil Abbasov, Chairman of the Management Board of the State Employment Agency, Rashad Taghiyev, Head of the Shamkir District Executive Authority, representatives of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA), the State Tax Service, project staff and more than 200 beneficiaries.

Hasil Abbasov highlighted that both the self-employment programme and the Employment Support Project play an important role in helping citizens establish small businesses and generate sustainable income. He noted that the Incentive Awards competition enables successful beneficiaries to expand their businesses, increase their income and create new opportunities for development.

Rashad Taghiyev emphasised that employment projects and active labour market measures implemented in the district make a significant contribution to expanding employment opportunities and creating new sources of income for unemployed and job-seeking individuals.

Participants were provided with detailed information on the objectives of the project, its implementation mechanism, participation requirements and the support measures available. Their questions were also answered.

As part of the event, another group of winners of the Incentive Awards competition received additional equipment to expand the small businesses they had established under the self-employment programme.

To date, more than 90 beneficiaries across the Baku, Absheron-Khizi, Mountainous Shirvan, Central Aran, Sheki-Zagatala, Guba-Khachmaz, Lankaran-Astara, Shirvan-Salyan and Karabakh economic regions have received additional equipment to support the expansion of their businesses.

The assets provided include equipment for auto locksmith services, PVC door and window production, photo studios, women’s beauty salons, and tyre repair and restoration services.

The Incentive Awards competition is designed to encourage successful beneficiaries of the self-employment programme to further develop their businesses, increase their income and strengthen the sustainability of their activities.

During the first phase of the competition, a total of 100 beneficiaries are expected to receive additional assets. The distribution of assets is continuing in stages, with a further 190 beneficiaries planned to receive equipment during the next phase.