United States government believes that fast-growing businesses are key to Pakistan’s economic future: Consul General

Karachi, September 02, 2013 (PPI-OT): This weekend in Karachi, entrepreneurs from across the region are receiving training and guidance for their businesses as part of the StartUp Cup, a “Build a Business” workshop and competition organized by the Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), Islamabad and funded by the United States Department of State. The Karachi workshop follows similar workshops in Islamabad and Lahore and is part of a four-month competition to help identify and assist aspiring entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into successful businesses.

Addressing the entrepreneurs at the workshop’s opening on Saturday, Consul General Michael Dodman said, “The U.S. government believes that fast-growing businesses are the key to the Pakistan’s economic future. We also believe that trade and investment are the future of the U.S.-Pakistan relationship. We are sponsoring StartUp Cup because it is a unique program that actually teaches aspiring entrepreneurs how to transform their ideas into successful businesses.”

Founded in 2007, the StartUp Cup is a U.S.-based business plan competition aimed at promoting a culture of entrepreneurship. This weekend’s workshop will train aspiring entrepreneurs how to build business plans, design sales and marketing strategies, attract funding, manage finance, run operations, and supervise, develop, and lead teams. Business mentoring sessions will provide individual coaching to refine business models for participants over the coming months. In November, the best proposals will receive cash awards to help launch their businesses – PKR 1,000,000 for first place, PKR 750,000 for second place, and PKR 500,000 for third place.

For more information, contact:
Mushtaque A. Rajpar
Information Specialist
Office of Public Affairs
Plot No 3-5, TPX Area, Mai Kolachi Road
Consulate General of United Sates of America
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Phone 021-35275453
Fax: 021-35275985
Cell Phone: 92-300-2022-462
Email: rajparma@state.gov