The Business Professionals Network (BPN) is a Swiss non-profit organization founded in 1999 by entrepreneur Jürg Oprecht.

The organization's goal is to promote sustainable job creation, which in turn will enable economic development and poverty alleviation. BPN supports small and medium-sized enterprises with the potential and desire to grow and develop, which can make a significant contribution to the country's economic progress.

Currently, BPN operates an entrepreneurship support program in Kyrgyzstan, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Mongolia, and Georgia.

The video features BPN founder Mr. Oprecht and his daughter Noelle Oprecht, also a member of the BPN team. They talk about the foundation's founding and its vision.

History of BPN GEORGIA

The BPN Georgia Foundation was established in 2016.

Our goal is to create opportunities and strong entrepreneurship in countries with economic potential. This will benefit the entrepreneurs themselves, their families, employees, the entire society and the country. We want to support development-oriented small and medium-sized businesses and equip them with the skills that will ensure their success.

Our work should be productive and valuable. "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Help a man set up a fishing business and you feed his workforce and their families."

_{BPN Georgia program}

Within the framework of the Business Academy, you will receive basic knowledge in the field of industrial economics. The knowledge you gain with us will help you in your professional growth. We attach great importance to the practical side of teaching and try to make the material provided easy to understand and implement. (See the list of seminars here)

BPN Georgia representatives will carry out the following activities during the program:

• In 2018, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between “BPN Georgia” and the credit organization “Crystal”. The purpose of the memorandum by the parties is to strengthen the potential of micro and small enterprises (MSE) and increase the knowledge of entrepreneurs in the field of business administration, which is essential for their economic success. The achievement of this goal is ensured by a joint product, which involves the provision of microfinance services by Crystal, along with training on business management by BPN.
• In 2021, a partnership memorandum was signed between the Swiss foundation BPN Georgia and VTB Bank, which envisages financing business courses in business administration for representatives of small and medium-sized businesses among the bank's customers. The duration of the course is 3 years and it is fully financed by VTB Bank and BPN Georgia. The main criterion for the competition is to be a VTB Bank customer. The first 5 candidates will be selected according to a simple and transparent competition, the terms and registration form of which can be found on the website: https://vtb.ge/

BPN, with its own support, is trying to bring companies to a stage of development where they can offer products and services that will contribute to the growth of value. This can be achieved through many years of professional coaching and solid, practice-oriented trainings from the field of industrial economics. Cooperation with Crystal also gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to use targeted credit wisely, which is in the interests of all parties. The development of the country's economy is possible only at the expense of local entrepreneurs and the jobs they create.