Wilson Laleau, acting , Minister of Industry and Commerce officially launched last week the Support Programme for SMEs [small and medium enterprises] of University Graduates (PAPMEU).

This pilot program, which intend reach 500 youth over 3 years throughout the national territory, is reserved exclusively for graduate and aims among other things, to provide technical and financial management, to enable them to achieve their business projects and contribute to economic development of Haiti.

The PAPMEU that has for the first year a budget of nearly 3 million U.S. dollars, also wants to be a way to reduce unemployment among young graduates who remain unemployed for too long, while many of them have interesting projects, which requires only a assistance to become realities.

The young university students wishing to participate in this program must submit their project to their respective faculties, which will transmit an initial selection to the Ministry who will choose the best projects by promoting those who are job creators and that will locate outside the metropolitan area.

The selected projects will benefit from a start assistance of 5,000 dollars. In addition, the Ministry will establish a guarantee fund in a bank, to enable young university entrepreneurs to obtain additional funding for the launch of their projects.

For Lucien Bernard, Rector of the Episcopal University "This is a major project that will allow students to leave the University with a project and not just a curriculum vitae," and encouraged all students to engage in entrepreneurship to reduce the unemployment rate.

S/ HaitiLibre