Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- At the embassy of Uzbekistan in Berlin, a meeting was held with the executive director of the Westerwelle Foundation, Oliver Reisner, during which prospects for cooperation in supporting youth in the implementation of innovative and entrepreneurial activities were discussed.

It should be noted that the Westerwelle Foundation was created in 2013 by the German politician G. Westerwelle, who served as chairman of the Free Democratic Party of Germany, Vice-Chancellor and Federal Foreign Minister of Germany. The headquarters of the Foundation is located in Berlin.

The main goals of the Foundation are to support international understanding, strengthen the market economy and the rule of law by promoting investment in education and training, as well as implementing new ideas. The mission of the Foundation is, first of all, to provide support to young entrepreneurs in developing countries to engage in start-up projects.

At the same time, key attention is paid to creating opportunities for translating their ideas into real business activities in order to promote the efficient use of human resources and economic development by creating new jobs.

Within the framework of the meeting, O. Reisner called the fact that the bulk of the population of Uzbekistan is young people as a huge potential, and positively assessed the great importance attached in the republic to their education, professional development and employment. He was particularly interested in the information about the measures taken in the country to support young people in the implementation of innovative and entrepreneurial activities.

Taking into account the special importance attached to the support of innovative and entrepreneurial activities of youth within the framework of startups in Uzbekistan, O. Reisner expressed the willingness of the Westerwelle Foundation to establish cooperation in this direction. As the first practical steps of interaction, the German side proposed to organize the participation of representatives of Uzbekistan in the YoungFounders Foundation Program, aimed at supporting promising young entrepreneurs from developing countries in the implementation of their innovative ideas and projects.

According to him, the program is held twice a year - in spring and autumn with a duration of 6 months. It can accommodate young entrepreneurs aged 20-35 from developing countries who have established their own profit-oriented firms over the past five years and are implementing start-up projects. To do this, the Foundation’s commission will study the applications received and an interview (via Skype) will be held with about 70-75 selected candidates, based on the results of which a final decision on 25 participants will be made. International air travel and accommodation expenses for conference participants are covered by the Westerwelle Foundation.

The start of the next Program is scheduled for March 2021, but the final decision on its implementation will be made closer to this date based on the epidemiological situation. Information about the Program and online registration options for participation can be obtained at the following address: www.westerwelle-foundation.com.

An agreement was also reached to hold a joint webinar for Uzbek youth engaged in innovative and entrepreneurial activities as part of startups, with the participation of representatives of the Westerwelle Foundation, German specialists and young entrepreneurs with experience in this area.

As part of the webinar, representatives of the Nemean side inform about the organization of successful start-up projects and promising areas for the development of their own business, as well as the possibilities of implementing ideas by attracting funds from investors.

For this, the Uzbek side should determine the circle of interested young entrepreneurs who can take part in the specified webinar, as well as formulate the topic of the event of particular interest. After that, an acceptable date for the webinar and other organizational issues will be agreed.

It should be noted that the establishment of cooperation with the Westerwelle Foundation in the above areas will contribute to the practical implementation of the Decrees of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On the State Program" Yoshlar Kelajagimiz "," On additional measures to improve mechanisms for financing projects in the field of entrepreneurship and innovation "and" On measures radical reform and raising to a new level of state youth policy in the Republic of Uzbekistan. "

In this regard, at present, the Ministry of Innovative Development, the Agency for Youth Affairs and the Youth Union of Uzbekistan have begun joint work on the practical implementation of the agreements reached with the Westerwelle Foundation. Young entrepreneurs of the republic who are interested in participating in the above activities can obtain the necessary information from these departments.