“As long as you are able to present it and it’s viable, can be operated and registered in the UAE, then you have the chance to have the Dh50,000 worth of support. You don’t have to return it, it’s yours.
DUBAI: The Philippine Business Council (PBC), a group of like-minded advocates, has launched an eight-month training program that comes with Dh50,000 in financial support, for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who want to start a commercial activity in the UAE.
“This program is for OFWs who want to start a business but do not have formal training,” said Leo Barrameda, PBC director for corporate social responsibility and head of the program, dubbed, “PBC Fellowship.”
“At the end of the program, we will give Dh50,000 worth of support for the chosen business plan to be implemented,” Barrameda said, adding that PBC will assist in its registration and operation.
Barrameda said PBC will select 50 participants who, for the duration of the program and assisted by resource persons, will be tasked to come up with a business plan. “It can be a restaurant, a fashion design company or logistics,” he said.
“As long as you are able to present it and it’s viable, can be operated and registered in the UAE, then you have the chance to have the Dh50,000 worth of support. You don’t have to return it, it’s yours,” said Barrameda.
He explained that PBC will offer support in terms of licensing, office set-up, advising and initial costs.
“Kahit hindi mapili yung business plan, we are confident hat at the end of the program lahat ng participants will be very confident to open his or her business kasi lahat ng topics ay relevant – from business plans, expansion, investing and so on,” Barrameda said.
He said the Dh50,000 “is just an add on to encourage OFWs na hindi lang to be an employee but to become a boss of his or her own business.”
To join, interested individuals are asked to visit the PBC website at www.pbcfellowship.com and sign up. Application period has started and shortlisting will be held on Feb. 8, 2019 after which voting for the second shortlisting will be made. The program will run from April 5 to end-October – 14 Fridays of intensive lecture and workshop on different topics.
