Construction commenced Thursday in Tripoli on the first municipality-led business incubator: Esnad – Tripoli Business Incubator Centre Building, the UNDP reported.
The centre will offer co-working spaces and project development services for entrepreneurs, startups, and institutions. Three women architects from the Municipality of Tripoli Centre led an inspiring and large-scale design for the first Esnad business incubator, led by the Municipality of Tripoli, located on Mansoura Street in the heart of the Libyan capital.
With construction expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2023, the business incubator will provide a conducive environment for entrepreneurs, startups, and creative companies to develop their project ideas in co-working spaces, benefiting from business development services, registration assistance, customized business courses, as well as access to networking. markets and financing opportunities.
The name “Esnad” was collaboratively chosen through a discussion between the Ministry of Local Government, the municipality, local communities and youth, and symbolizes the entrepreneurial spirit and unifying vision of the building, the UNDP reported.
Esnad Business Incubator is a bold step towards decentralization and strengthening coordination between municipalities, the private sector, civil society and the central government, a symbol of hope and progress for the people of Tripoli and beyond, it added.
The Minister of Local Government, Badr Al-Din Al-Tumi, said: “The Ministry of Local Government issued a decision guaranteeing the right of municipalities to establish business incubators and small and medium enterprises, which will be the first step to support young people in obtaining job opportunities in the private sector. In addition, the Ministry of Local Government leads international cooperation efforts, and seeks the cooperation of international partners including the European Union and the United Nations Development Program to promote stability and local development”.
The Dean of the Tripoli Centre Municipality, Ibrahim Al-Khulaifi, expressed his enthusiasm for the municipality-led incubation model established by the Ministry of Local Government, saying, “Tripoli Municipality Centre, in close partnership with the United Nations Development Program and with the support of the European Union, is implementing one of the most important projects to promote innovation and growth of small and medium enterprises, and the formation of a new development reality at the local level. Thus, this project is extremely important for the municipality.”
The Ministry of Local Government and the Municipality of Tripoli jointly developed the innovative concept of a fully municipality-led business incubator. This initiative is supported with technical assistance from the EU-funded project “Strengthening Local Resilience and Recovery”, which is implemented in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme.
EU Ambassador José Sabadell said: “Libyans have shown outstanding creativity and resilience in realizing startup ideas over the past years, including some innovative and futuristic projects for a greener economy. Business incubators provide them with the necessary assistance so that they can focus on their core business and network. With new partners and markets, the EU is proud to support entrepreneurs and innovation in Libya.”
UNDP Resident Representative Marc-Andre Franche also expressed his appreciation for the initiative: “The incubator is the ideal platform for entrepreneurs to take their ideas and turn them into successful businesses. We are proud to be part of this initiative and to work closely with the Ministry of Local Government to create a vibrant business environment.” life and prosperity in Libya. For this, we are grateful to the European Union for its continued support to promote job creation and entrepreneurship in Libya for hundreds of young people, which remains at the heart of our domestic efforts to build peace across Libya.”
The Esnad Business Incubator Centre is a joint project by the Ministry of Local Government, the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme in Libya.
National Team for Business Incubators and SMEs
The UNDP further revealed that in order to establish sustainable mechanisms to promote entrepreneurship, the UNDP is working with the Ministry of Local Government and its Office for Entrepreneurship and Business Incubation to establish a National Team for Business Incubators and SMEs. The Ministry of Local Government will lead the team that aims to enhance coordination between relevant government agencies, in line with its Resolution No. 1500 regarding the establishment of business incubators and accelerators issued in 2021.
