INTILAAQAH For Young Entrepreneurs

Intilaaqah is part of ‘LiveWire’, the Shell Group’s youth enterprise programme currently operating in 26 countries. Intilaaqah is a social investment programme designed to promote enterprise by providing practical advice and support to potential entrepreneurs seeking to start, or expand, their own businesses.

“Intilaaqah in Libya is now in its second year and we have delivered all the introductory awareness sessions to 1,200 people. From these we will choose a selection for further evaluation and participation in the programme,” says Rafaa Khalifa, Intilaaqah Programme Director for Shell Libya.

“To attract the right students we have targeted universities, colleges of higher education and other youth organisations, providing information about the way the programme is organised by producing and distributing brochures and leaflets explaining the vision of the programme and inviting people to attend our awareness sessions.

“In 2007 there were 98 students who graduated successfully from Intilaaqah. Sixty-five of these delivered business plans to the Facility Fund and 46 have been funded by its Loan Committee, whilst the balance are under consideration. “The other 33 graduates are either funding their operations themselves or joined the Intilaaqah programme for training purposes to develop their management skills to be able to expand their businesses, or run them more efficiently.

“Shell arranged for successful international entrepreneurs, such as Karen Darby from the United Kingdom, to lecture students during their two-week training courses. In addition several successful Libyan entrepreneurs have shared their experiences and success stories with the students.

“During a visit from His Highness the Duke of York, a workshop was organised to enable students to have more interactive engagements.

“Several of the graduates have already achieved success as a result of their participation in the programme. One of these is Basma Abbara, who produced the fashion show for the Intilaaqah Awards Ceremony at the end of 2007. “So,” concludes Rafaa, “we look forward to the continuing successful roll-out of Intilaaqah in Libya over the next few years.”

The Facility Fund was set up to provide financial support to students who graduate from Shell’s Intilaaqah training programme and who want to start their own businesses or expand their existing businesses. The Facility Fund receives its financial support from the Ministry of Manpower and the Development Bank of Libya.

“The Facility Fund was established with a start-up fund of five million Libyan Dinars, which was for the pilot programme for 2007,” says Taher Galouz, Chairman of the Management Committee of the Facility Fund.

“Following the introduction of the programme in Tripoli and the completion of the first year’s targets, 61 million Dinars has been provided to the Facility Fund for the next three years.

“In 2007 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Manpower, the Development Bank of Libya and Shell for the pilot project, which allows for Shell to manage the programme and for funding to be provided.

“In 2008 the new agreement will be expanded to cover Tripoli and Benghazi, and in 2009 will be expanded to include Sabha, Libya’s third largest city, in the south of the country. In 2010 it will include Misrata in the west,” he says.

Graduates of the Intilaaqah programme can apply for financial support to the Facility Fund by producing a business plan outlining their business requirements. The loans provided are without interest and are for a maximum of 50,000 Libyan Dinars, which has to be repaid within a maximum of six years. There are no repayments in the first six months.

“At the moment in Libya we have a need to expand the economy and develop new business opportunities for our youth. The Intilaaqah programme has given us the vehicle to train young entrepreneurs and with the financial support of the Facility Fund we hope to get lots of businesses up and running over the course of the next three years,” he concludes.

Both Basma Abbara and Kheria Alwarfely are partners in a company called Al-Abroug, which makes fashion wear designed by Basma and traditional Libyan costumes for children’s dolls.

“Shell’s Intilaaqah programme gave us the help we needed to set up a business,” says Kheria. They applied for a loan of 4,500 Libyan Dinars, received it, and are buying 12 sewing machines. By running two shifts in their workshops, they are able to employ 24 ladies.

“Cultural issues in parts of Libya can still make it difficult for married women to go out to work. So we are providing sewing machines to some ladies so that they can work from home,” says Basma.

Rafiq El-Gritly says, “I started my cleaning business in 2002 but lacked the management training to be a real success. I am also a full-time student at Al-Fateh University in Tripoli, where I am studying for a degree in communications engineering. So life is busy for me. However, I applied for the Intilaaqah programme and was successful.

“The course was very useful, particularly with regard to the management of staff and training them to interact with customers. I now have two full-time staff at my depot, where we clean carpets and rugs, and three other staff carry out office cleaning contracts.

“Everything is going well and when I finish university next year I will be able to devote even more time to expanding my business.”

Abdulati Sbeta says, “My family has owned optician shops since 1970 but I wanted to branch out on my own. So in 2006 I set up my first optician shop and now I have a second shop. I was looking to expand further as I wanted to provide an eye-testing service for my customers.

“I was successful in joining the Intilaaqah programme and learned a lot, especially financial management, marketing strategy and how to prepare a business plan to obtain loans from financial institutions.

“I prepared a business plan and applied to the Facility Fund for a loan of 47,000 Libyan Dinars. I have used the money to buy instruments to open my eye-testing service and will now employ a full-time optometrist. So the future is looking good,” he says.

Abdul Salaam Shib Shabaa has been working in the tyre change and repair industry for the last ten years but had always wanted to open his own shop. He heard about Intilaaqah through friends.

“I was accepted as a graduate in June 2007. The course included training in marketing and management of a small business, as well as sales and financial training. I also learned to prepare a business plan which I submitted to the Facility Fund with a request to borrow 40,000 Libyan Dinars. Approval for the loan was very quick, less than one month, so I was able to start my business without delay.

“Business has been good, and I have been able to employ one other person, so even in my own small way I am helping the employment situation in Libya,” he concludes.