Praslin entrepreneurs learn A-Z of business |14 May 2009

Organised by the Small Enterprise Promotion Agency (Senpa), the one-week A-Z of business seminar was the third in a series after others were held on Mahe and La Digue.

Led by business consultant Peter Roselie, the Praslin workshop was held at the Baha’i centre, Baie Ste Anne, and had about 30 people taking part. They were presented with certificates on Friday.

 
During the week, people wanting to set up a business explained their ideas for their ventures, and Mr Roselie told them how to get these plans off the ground.

Others wanting to expand were shown how to do so with minimum risk and how to protect themselves against foreclosure and bankruptcy.

On Friday, Paul Dugasse of the Seychelles Credit Union gave a presentation on their scheme to protect loans, which pays up to R250,000 in case the borrower dies or becomes disabled.

Mr Roselie said one of the main weaknesses of Praslin entrepreneurs is that a lot of them venture into the same thing.

“We have a lot of people in tailoring and snacks,” he said. “And while it may appear a lucrative industry, one must take into account the demand for such products, as well as how to make the products distinct from the others in the same field.”

Academic topics discussed during the workshop included financial management, business philosophy, business models, ethics, marketing, pricing and contract-making.

Mr Roselie said he was impressed by the age range of his trainees – from 17 to 67 – and by the number of professionals in certain fields who came to see the possibilities of venturing into business.

At the end of the seminar, all those on the course had to give presentations on how they would carry out what they had learned.

Senpa’s manager for business development, Kevin Samson, said the workshop was a level-one course, which mainly covered basics. A level-two course will soon be held, which will include topics such as risk management, quality control, devolution on death and liquidation.