The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), BP on behalf of its co-ventures in the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Shah Deniz, and South Caucasus Pipeline, and the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) today launched a new Youth Business Leadership project in support of professional development of the next generation of business leaders in Azerbaijan. Michael Greene, USAID/Azerbaijan Mission Director; Tamam Bayatly, BP`s Communications Manager; and Nargiz Nasrullayeva-Muduroglu, AmCham Director, signed a Memorandum of Understanding in an event hosted by USAID in Baku.

The primary purpose of the two-year Youth Business Leadership Project is to empower young students to become entrepreneurs and future business leaders by providing them with opportunities to gain real world employment experience through internships at various private companies to develop their business management knowledge beyond the classroom. The program will also provide the interns with mentorship opportunities, linking successful businessmen and businesswomen who can offer guidance on career planning. The project will provide internships to 120 3rd and 4th year university students from Baku and Ganja. The American Chamber of Commerce will assist in identifying internship opportunities for project participants. The project will be implemented by the local non-governmental organization Junior Achievement Azerbaijan (JAA).

USAID/Azerbaijan Mission Director Michael Greene in his welcome speech spoke about the long-term cooperation USAID has had with Junior Achievement and the impact that the USAID-supported programs made on economic and business education in Azerbaijan.

U.S Ambassador Richard Morningstar attended the ceremony and said: “One of the most important aspects of this program is its focus on young women.  The program aims to have 60% of the internships go to support women.” He added that this project will give students an opportunity to improve their business skills and interact with working professionals.

Addressing the event Tamam Bayatly, BP’s Communications Manager, said: “We are pleased to have this opportunity to support professional training of Azerbaijan’s next generation of business leaders. This in fact is part of our continuing commitment to the development of national education. During its 20 year presence in Azerbaijan BP itself, and together with its business partners, has been involved in major educational projects, which are aimed to create sustainable development opportunities for young people. We believe the project we are launching today will provide such opportunities for 120 selected business and management students, supporting them in their efforts to prepare themselves for future careers in local and international companies”.

Touching upon the project’s key objectives Rashad Khanlarov, Executive Director of JAA, emphasized the importance of investing in youth for their career development that will help them make mature decisions about future careers in business. Projects such as this will foster competent cadres of entrepreneurs and managers for Azerbaijan’s developing economy.

The total value of the project is $200,000 of which $100,000 shall be paid by BP and its co-ventures, and the remaining $100,000 by USAID.