BDG Grant Award Ceremonies have been organized in all 26 regions of Tanzania as a result of an exciting competitive Business Development Program. The Tanzanian Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) disburses 1,980 Business Grants with a value of more than 3.3 Billion to 1,136 BDG winners

Activities of the first BDG eight months program cycle are culminating in the final Grants Award Ceremony, which will be celebrated at the occasion of TPSF Entrepreneur Days to be held on 13 and 14 August 2009 at Mnazi Mmoja Grounds. The Business Plan Competition finalists will receive awards in the range of Tshs 12-18 Million and the Business Diagnosis Program winners receive awards in the form of Business Grants ranging from Tshs 1.2 Million till 4.8 Million. You are invited to celebrate together the successes of the Business Development Gateway winners!

The Business Development Gateway Program (BDG) completed its series of Business Skills Development rounds throughout all 26 regions of Tanzania. An extensive program which have been made possible through close cooperation with the BDG partners: SIDO, NMB, ZAIN, TCCIA on the mainland and ZNCCIA, PBZ, ZAIN in Zanzibar. By means of a strong competitive system, each round yielded the most entrepreneurial participants who were awarded with business grants. The final round of in-depth training/mentoring sessions leads to the Final Grants Ceremony to be celebrated at the occasion of the TPSF Entrepreneur Days on 13-14 August 2009.

Independent business judges selected 250 BPC winners who received Business Grant Awards of Tshs. 3 Million each. 50 second round winners were each awarded with Business Grants of Tshs 9 Million. During the final award ceremony the 10 top winners will receive Grants in the range of Tshs. 12-18 Million. More than Tshs. 1.3 Billion has been disbursed as BPC grants. The 50 BDP top winners are invited to show their businesses during the TPSF Entrepreneur Days.

A total of 1670 BDP Grants, with a value of more than Tshs 2 Billion have been awarded during the Award Ceremonies in 26 Regions of Tanzania. The 70 BDP top winners are invited to show their businesses during the TPSF Entrepreneur Days.

TPSF organizes Entrepreneur Days on 13 and 14 August 2009 on the Mnazi Mmoja Grounds to provide an opportunity to all final BDG winners to expose their businesses to the Guest of Honor and the general public. Exhibition grounds are open from 8am till 6 pm. BDG winners are requested to confirm participation by SIDO Regional Offices. Final Grants Awards will be issued by the Guest of Honor on 14 August from 9 am till 13 pm. TPSF invites Officials, the Tanzanian Business Community, Press and the general public to witness this event and celebrate together with the backbone of the economy: OUR TANZANIAN ENTREPRENEURS!

Registration to participate in the next cycle of BDG shall be communicated at the occasion of the TPSF Entrepreneur Days on 14 August 09. However, the second cycle of eight months duration is expected to run from October 2009.

BDG is inviting new partners and sponsors interested in the development of private Micro and Small enterprise sector in Tanzania who are willing to make a contribution to it. To learn more about BDG and its activities please visit BDG web portal, www.bdgtpsf.com. For more information on participation or sponsorship opportunities please contact the BDG Project Implementation Office at: BDGinfo@tpsftz.org, or by phone: +255 (0) 78 8066034.