Business plan competition empowers young hospitality and tourism entrepreneurs in Timor-Leste
Youth entrepreneurs in Timor-Leste's hospitality and tourism sector have gained new skills to start and improve their businesses.
16 July 2024
BANGKOK, Thailand (ILO News) – Young entrepreneurs in Timor-Leste's hospitality and tourism sector have sharpened their entrepreneurial skills at a business plan competition.
The event was organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO), in partnership with the HOTL Association, Pro Ema and Fundacao Cicanda (STVJ) to support young aspiring and existing entrepreneurs gain practical knowledge and skills on entrepreneurship and business development. It also connected them with key actors in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, including investors, partners and business development service providers.
The 12 finalists of the business plan competition gave their pitches in front of judges and the audience. The finalists participated at the 3-day training by the ILO, STVJ and Pro Ema on 27-29 May 2024 to develop and refine their business plans, using selected modules of the Small Business Competitiveness (SBC) Programme. The SBC Programme provides guidance to enterprises and aspiring entrepreneurs in the hospitality and tourism sector.
The event featured a career talk by an entrepreneur who shared her entrepreneurial journey that saw her transform her passion for nutrition, health and food science into a sustainable business. Representatives from the BNCTL commercial bank provided participants with information on financing, Pro Ema on mentoring and training opportunities and HOTL Association on the benefits of its membership.
A participant said, “This business plan competition motivated me to keep learning and achieve my goals.”
A representative from HOTL Association said, “HOTL Association looks forward to continue working with the ILO to build a strong, sustainable and thriving hospitality and tourism sector in Timor-Leste.”
Over 60 participants joined the event, including representatives from the public and private sector, training institutions, and the Japanese Embassy in Timor-Leste.
The event is part of ILO's Building Youth Capacity and Network in Asia Pacific project funded by the Government of Japan. It aims to develop a network of development partners to equip young entrepreneurs with the skills needed to start their own businesses and become drivers of sustainable development. One of the project activities focuses on promoting employment and decent work opportunities for youth in the hospitality and tourism sector in Timor-Leste.