Press releases

GOMEL, 14 February (BelTA) - In Gomel Oblast sixty Ukrainian families have received financial support to start up a business as part of the pilot assistance program “Microeconomic initiatives for Ukrainian resettlers in the Republic of Belarus in 2017-2018”, Oscar Susanto, a coordinator of humanitarian assistance at the International Committee of the Red Cross, told the media on 14 February, BelTA has learned.

The organizers of the program are the Belarusian Red Cross Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross. “The project aims to create the income opportunities so that the displaced persons can support themselves and their families. It allows individuals or groups of individuals to start up a new small business or expand an existing one,” Oscar Susanto noted.

As of today Gomel Oblast has already supported 60 business plans. In the cities these are the initiatives in the services sector, commerce, arts and crafts, and in the villages these are the projects related to livestock and agriculture. The applicants have received assistance of €800 per project. The financial support has been provided in the form of equipment, materials, and also as the payment for training in the suggested activity.

On 14 February the Gomel Oblast organization of the Belarusian Red Cross Society held a meeting of the selection commission to pick up new initiatives. The event was attended by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the department for labor, employment and social protection of the Gomel City Hall. The commission received 14 initiatives to consider. Among them were the projects in agriculture, services and other sectors.

Deputy Chairwoman of the Gomel Oblast organization of the Belarusian Red Cross Society Olesya Kostiuk stated that those wishing to participate in the project of micro-initiatives need to contact their oblast office of the Belarusian Red Cross Society and submit a business plan. “The commission considers whether the business plan is economically viable. After that a decision on funding is made,” she said.