USAID’s Enterprise and Employment Program, Thomas More University and CISCO Systems Successfully Close First Stage of the CISCO Entrepreneurship Institute in Nicaragua

Graduates of the CISCO Entrepreneurship Institute
Nicaraguan youth are now better prepared to start their own businesses thanks to the "Create Your Business" course at the CISCO Entrepreneurship Institute supported by USAID
USAID/Nicaragua

Since its inauguration, 206 small business owners and entrepreneurs have participated in courses

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Jordi Icaza
(505) 2252-7100 ext. 7416

Ninety-four entrepreneurs and small business owners acquired improved financial and strategy tools to broaden the profitability of their new or existing businesses. The graduates finished the courses “Create Your Business” and “Business Growth” provided by the CISCO Entrepreneurship Institute in Nicaragua-Thomas More University, in alliance with USAID’s Enterprise and Employment program.

 
This group of graduates received 50 class hours. Of the 68 students in the “Create your Business” course, one-third were women. Forty-one of the graduates are in the process of starting their own business in sectors such as education, commerce, stockbreeding and agro-industry. Nineteen of the graduates have requested bank credits using the business plans created during the course. Of the twenty-six graduates from the “Business Growth” course, ten are women. During this course the graduates prepared business strategies in sectors such as services, commerce and tourism. 
 
The students of the “Create Your Business” course received classes on topics such as creation of business plans, competitive analysis, basic accounting, patenting and insurance. For the “Business Growth” course, the classes focused on business strategy, marketing, process re-engineering, purchases and inventory, human resources and cost accounting, as well as the preparation of a business plan.
 
A graduation ceremony was held in the “Jacques Maritain” auditorium of the Thomas More University. The event was led by Arthur W. Brown, USAID/Nicaragua Mission Director, Danilo Cruz-DePaula, USAID’s Enterprise and Employment Chief of Party, Silvio De Franco Montalván, President of the Thomas More University, and Luis Adolfo Medal, Director of the CISCO Entrepreneurship Institute in Nicaragua.
 
The CISCO Entrepreneurship Institute opened its doors on June 2011 with the support of the people of the United States through USAID’s Enterprise and Employment Program. Since its inauguration, 206 small business owners and entrepreneurs have participated in courses.
 
USAID’s Enterprise and Employment Program wishes this group of entrepreneurs success in their businesses and in the implementation of their strategies. Likewise, it wishes success to the CISCO Entrepreneurship Institute in the development of its courses throughout 2013. 
 
USAID’s Enterprise and Employment program focuses on three main objectives: business development, human capital development; commercial capacity and business climate.