BPN

Promoting small businesses

download as PDF
Introduction
Highlights
Nicaragua
Georgia
Rwanda
Mongolia
Kyrgyzstan
Financial statements

Annual report 2023

Commitment and support

Dear BPN friends

Sometimes time slips away and the new year has already become an old year. That's what happened to me in 2023 and when I was reminded to summarize a few thoughts for the annual report, a smile flitted across my face. It wasn't a smile of embarrassment, but of satisfaction. Although time has melted away in my hands, I have been able to collect many wonderful memories of the successes in our organization over the past few months. I have been able to recognize that we have achieved our goals in all countries over the past 12 months, despite mostly difficult political conditions. We have accompanied many people on their path to successful entrepreneurship, imparted knowledge, demonstrated solutions through coaching and consistently pointed out that personal responsibility and initiative often form the foundation of a successful company. As a result, many jobs have been created and entrepreneurs have been strengthened in their self-image.

In addition to many other personal highlights, the commitment of our employees, the in-depth discussions and the personal encounters with our patrons and donors at our donation weekend in fall 2023 touched me deeply and showed me that we are on the right track. This has also created a basis for a lively start to 2024, when we will be celebrating our 25th anniversary. I am looking forward to this anniversary and I am convinced that the retrospectives will make us smile and the outlook for the next 25 years will be exciting.

I would like to thank everyone who has supported BPN with their work or with a financial contribution over the past year. Support helps us to work all the more motivated in difficult times and, above all, to know that we are not alone. In this sense, we are all BPN!

Thank you very much!

Cordially,
Martin Wipfli
Chairman of the Board of Trustees

"Values" - The essence of a vital company

How do we understand each other? What motivates people? Why do companies achieve big goals? Why and what are we committed to? Read about what decisively shapes the fulfillment of BPN's mission!

Values and values

"Everyone is worth as much as the things he is serious about", as the "philosopher emperor" Marcus Aurelius recognized. This also applies to corporate values: monetary targets and measurements are necessary conditions for competitiveness, but a shared value base is sufficient for decisive competitive advantages. What motivates people and spurs them on to exceptional performance depends on how employees experience themselves and their environment, what relationship they have to themselves, to their work, to the results of their work and to the collective. Holism, meaningful action and solidarity are the roots of high motivation, commitment, creativity, foresight and the ability to learn.

Values are valuable when they serve others

Because BPN helps to unleash entrepreneurial forces in third parties, we pay great attention to the "culture" of the working groups we support. That is why standards, attitudes and clear principles are the points of reference when solving our tasks. Our present day, in which in many places dealings seem to be becoming more ruthless and the economic system more corruptible, calls for consistent and constant values - in other words, credible signposts.

BPN lives and creates values - worldwide

People often act according to social rules. And they have ideas that guide their actions. BPN connects, educates, advises, mediates, enables, builds bridges - successfully for a quarter of a century! We promote entrepreneurial forces that open up special opportunities for development and realization. We see ourselves as an international working community that offers promising conditions for purposeful and "virtuous" entrepreneurial behavior. An entrepreneurial mindset in everyday working life on the foundation of a strongly anchored self-image - this is how BPN approaches things. It is never about absolutizing (one's own) values. As Viktor Frankl said: "Values cannot be taught, they can only be exemplified".

Jobs supported by BPN in 2023
2861

"Consider each day not only by what you reap, but by what you sow."

Dear BPN friends

This quote from Robert Louis Stevenson has taken on a deeper meaning over the past year. It gives us an inspiring perspective for our commitment.

The past 12 months have been an impressive journey full of challenges and successes for our foundation. In the midst of global upheaval, we have tirelessly sown seeds of change in the fertile soil of the developing and emerging countries in which we operate. Against all odds, as a community we have promoted sustainable business initiatives and created opportunities that go beyond the mere harvest of successes.

As we look back on this year, we see not only the fruits of our hard work, but also the growth of ideas that are germinating and blossoming. Our shared commitment to entrepreneurship in these regions has brought about not only economic but also social change. Every day has been an opportunity to bring about positive change and lay the foundations for a sustainable future.

In hours of uncertainty, our supporters and friends have played an incomparable role. Together, we have not only overcome the challenges of the past year, but also laid the foundations for future successes. Thank you for every sign of solidarity.

On the occasion of our 25th anniversary, which we will celebrate in 2024, we would like to extend a sincere thank you to all our friends and donors. Your generosity and belief in our mission have enabled us to play a crucial role in these years of support and growth. We thank you for your continued support and contribution to our vision for sustainable development.

May what we sow continue to bear fruit that strengthens entrepreneurship in developing and emerging countries.

Yours sincerely

Willi Helbling and the BPN team
CEO

Global highlights 2023

New BPN seminars

We have continuously expanded our range of seminars so that we can provide entrepreneurs with the best possible support. A total of 27 new seminars & webinars were developed in 2023.

New information page for legacies

Your legacy for a better world? Support entrepreneurial engagement outside Europe of your own free will - it can make a big difference! https://bpn.ch/mitmachen/legate/

Premiere: virtual team meeting

For the first time, we held an international web conference for all BPN employees (approx. 50 people). We will continue to expand this format in the future in order to deepen our joint task fulfillment and cohesion.

You can find more highlights in our review of the year

> to the 2023 annual review

Facts & Figures - BPN at a glance

Since program start

In the year

bpn_ico_company

Supported companies

0
0
bpn_ico_workplaces

Subsidized jobs

0
0
bpn_ico_workshop

Seminars and workshops

0
0

Nicaragua

Jobs supported in Nicaragua in 2023
423
Claudia

"What I like about the seminars is that they gave me basic tools for my own well-planned project."

So says Claudia, owner of Mode et Stil Ordóñez - a workshop that produces business uniforms and industrial embroidery for companies and schools. While the socio-political situation is forcing many Nicaraguans to leave their homeland, Claudia has been investing in her business with great courage for years. Watch the video to find out the exciting story of how Claudia managed to realize her dream of founding a company thanks to BPN.

Highlights 2023

17th anniversary celebration

We were able to welcome over a hundred entrepreneurs to this festive event.

Popular seminars

Due to high demand, the employee management seminar, for example, was even held twice last year.

Active without interruption

Although many non-profit organizations unfortunately had to (involuntarily) cease operations last year, BPN remains active in Nicaragua.

Georgia

Davit

"Exemplary production management"

Davit is a catering expert. Thanks to our "Senior Expert Contact", he optimizes his quality-conscious catering services. A qualified business economist, Davit founded his company back in 2005. Open to new ideas and in search of greater efficiency in his business processes, Davit turned to BPN. He is particularly grateful for the coaching opportunities and the support he received as part of the BPN training program, which included the assistance of a Swiss industry expert.
Supported jobs 2023 in Georgia
298

Highlights 2023

Digitization of the organization

We implemented the new website with a CRM connection and a learning platform with digital payment options. Website texts were also fundamentally revised.

Company seminars held for the first time

We started with the time and self-management seminar for the employees of "Luca Polare", a Georgian ice cream and coffee chain. We were also able to train the managers at "Elite Technology/Creditservice" and the "Bank of Georgia".

New office space

In spring, we were able to find an affordable and modernized working environment in a central location. It offers enough space to welcome BPN program participants in an appealing atmosphere.

Rwanda

Jobs supported in Rwanda in 2023
518
Marie Ange

From study to business success

Marie Ange has been fascinated by agriculture since her youth. That's why, after graduating from university, she founded a company that makes products from pumpkins. With BPN's help, she developed a unique business model. Starting out on her own, she now employs 30 people and sells her vegetable products in 55 supermarkets in Rwanda. See for yourself how the dedicated farmer has built up her proud existence in the video portrait!

Highlights 2023

Intercontinental partnership

As part of a partnership with the Belgian Technical Development Cooperation (Enabel), 75 entrepreneurs from the construction sector were selected to take part in the BPN program around two years ago. The entrepreneurs have now completed the training program.

Qualitative growth

The reach and size of BPN-Rwanda is now astonishing and has recently almost doubled.

Monthly media presence

"New Times Rwanda" is a national English-language newspaper and the largest daily newspaper in Rwanda. Alice Nkulikiyinka, our Country Director in Rwanda, wrote an article on entrepreneurship for the newspaper every month for a year.

Mongolia

Solongo

"The will to achieve great things"

The best stories are created when passion meets innovation. This is how the fascinating success story of Solongo - founder of "Buramkhan" - began. The training offered by the BPN Foundation has made a lot possible for Solongo: "BPN has significantly changed the way I look at my business. My work was no longer just a job, it matured into a vision," beams Solongo. The core of her company's success is a mixture of enthusiasm, excellent quality and a tireless desire to constantly develop.
Jobs supported in Mongolia in 2023
958

Highlights 2023

New Country Director

In the summer, we welcomed René Luchsinger, an experienced and cosmopolitan expert, to the BPN "crew" as our new country manager.

The seeds of sustainability

In cooperation with Khan Bank, BPN-Mongolia has developed a development program that teaches and helps to reflect responsible action in SMEs.

Entrepreneur:inside trip to Switzerland

14 entrepreneurs from Mongolia traveled to Switzerland. A full program with exciting inputs awaited them. No fewer than 6 company visits were on the agenda.

Kyrgyzstan

Supported jobs 2023 in Kyrgyzstan
664
Bektur

"BPN has changed my life"

Property surveillance, installation of alarm systems, escorting money transportation - Bektur's flourishing business. Security services are in high demand in Kyrgyzstan - and the cooperation with BPN has enabled Bektur to expand his company to over 100 employees today. He emphasizes that the BPN seminars have had a decisive positive influence on his thinking and actions. He attaches great importance to applying the work ethic and business management skills he has learned in his daily business practice. You can find out more about this success story in the video.

Highlights 2023

Attractive networking events

Innovative networking formats were launched with the "Business Breakfast" in Bishkek and the "Business Dinner" in Osh. The large turnout of committed entrepreneurs illustrates the growing need for such events.

Worthwhile investments

By granting substantial second loans, we supported several entrepreneurs in strengthening their production sites. In addition to improving operational security, this also increased employee potential.

Ecological accents set

The members of the BPN Entrepreneurs' Association planted 33 trees in Bishkek! They were inspired to do so by their visit to NIKIN during the entrepreneurs' trip to Switzerland in fall 2022.

Annual financial statements - 2023 in figures

Many thanks to all our supporters! Their contribution – whether through foundations, the Founders Circle or through specific educational and country donations – has made a decisive contribution to enabling us to support entrepreneurs in the BPN countries and to create existing and new jobs. In addition, we generated additional income of CHF 535,185 through seminar fees and interest income in our programme countries. These funds, which do not appear in the official annual accounts of the BPN Foundation, were used directly for local needs. An overview of our successes can be found in the excerpt from BPN's 2023 annual financial statements. The complete revised financial statements with details of the fund's capital and other financial aspects can be found at www.bpn.ch/downloads. We invite you to find out more and become part of our community. 

Our ZEWO certification underlines the BPN Foundation's commitment to using all donations responsibly and efficiently to fulfill our social mission.

0
Donation income
0
Private donations
0
NGO partnerships
0
Public sector

Thank you for your generous donations!

0
Program effort
0
Program management, training & coaching
0
Personnel & infrastructure in the country
0
Indirect program costs
0
Fundraising
0
Personnel expenses
0
Fundraising & information work
0
Administration
0
Personnel expenses
0
Infrastructure & administration
BPN_Logo_BG0.png

The BPN (Business Professionals Network) Foundation, based in Switzerland, has been active since 1999 and operates in 5 countries: Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nicaragua and Rwanda.

We support small and medium scale entrepreneurs in our partner countries with the aim of securing and creating jobs in the long term and thus contributing to local economic development.

Information on the top management body and the members of the Executive Board can be found here.

Give the gift of perspective. Become a sponsor

Furniture workshop

Emmanuel U.
Rwanda / Kigali

Disposable tableware

Saranchimeg D.
Mongolia / Ulaanbaatar

Music store

Nino D.
Georgia / Tbilisi

View all entrepreneur sponsorships >

How do you like the new e-annual report?

Your feedback is anonymous.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Multiple Choice

We rely on your feedback so that we can improve.