Orange Corners Graduates first batch of Entrepreneurs

The Orange Corners hub on Wednesday graduated its first batch of 23 ambitious entrepreneurs under entrepreneurship programme meant to bridge skills gaps among South Sudanese youth.
Prof.Robert Deng,Vice Chancelor,University of Juba(2nd (L), Paul Tholen Ambassador of Kingdom of the Netherlands (3rd L) and Deborah Akech, Undersecreatry in the Ministry of Youth and Sports (M) in a group photo with graduates on wednesday.

By Arich Deng Anyar & Simon Deng

The Orange Corners hub on Wednesday graduated its first batch of 23 ambitious entrepreneurs under entrepreneurship programme meant to bridge skills gaps among South Sudanese youth.

Speaking during the event held in Juba, Deborah Akech, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, commended the successful entrepreneurs and advised them to start their businesses after this training.

“When we talk of social problems, we look right at our feet and that is our country, South Sudan. It’s a nation that has emerged out of the civil war, and we have many things that we need to fix in order to reach to the level of some developing countries,” said Akech.

She urged the entrepreneurs to make good use of the training they have attended.

“It is a privilege to have this program and I also want to assure you that the government has a youth training program. We have a policy in place that is tabled in parliament; we are waiting for the parliament to endorse it,” said Akech.

Robert Mayom Deng, Vice Chancellor of the University of Juba advised the entrepreneurs to aim to improve improve the conditions of the country.

Mayom commended the organizers of the program for ensuring participation of women in the training.

“A country will never develop, even if they are 100 percent educated, but if the ladies are educated, then there is always a hope that that country is going to progress. Now the initiative of the Dutch government, I think is one of the best you can have as a nation,” he said.

Paul Tholen, Ambassador of the kingdom of the Netherlands, said the investment in training youth entrepreneurs is aimed to contribute to a brighter, peaceful and more prosperous future of South Sudan.

“The Netherlands believes in putting young entrepreneurs, women and men at the center of economic development, to create better perspectives for them, and for South Sudan,” said Tholen.

“The Orange Corners approach of business training and coaching has proven to be a great success in other countries in the region. It was high time to have an Orange Corner in South Sudan,” he added.

Tholen said this initiative implemented by BizEx Limited trains promising young entrepreneurs, adding that more than 20 Orange Corners programs in Africa have already supported over 3000 entrepreneurs.

“South Sudan needs a more supportive business environment for young entrepreneurs, to allow for diversification of the economy and economic growth,” said Tholen.

 He revealed that entrepreneurs need good business mindset, business skills, capital including good infrastructure, affordable Internet, a fair tax system, and a simple low-cost business registration process.

Tholen also said that 70 percent of South Sudan’s population below the age of 30 has the potential to shape the country’s future, but they face significant challenges like economic hardship and limited opportunities.

“The Embassy of the Netherlands firmly believes that young, ambitious entrepreneurs will be drivers for change. By supporting youth entrepreneurship, the Netherlands aims to contribute to a brighter, more prosperous, and peaceful future,” he said.

During the six-month training, industry experts give Master classes and the programs connect the starting entrepreneurs to experienced entrepreneurs.

Orange Corners also supports the participants with start-up capital and access to commercial loans at a later stage.

Through the Orange Corners programme, young entrepreneurs receive practical business skills during trainings in the hub of BizEx Limited like developing business proposals, bookkeeping, and marketing.

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