Christian Entrepreneurs Creating Jobs in Central Asia

Young Kyrgyz believers like Nurlan Begelin are taking the training in general business and the collateralized loans they obtain through the BPN program in Kyrgyzstan, and expanding their companies at an average rate of one new job for each $1000 (U.S.) they borrow. During the past year, nearly 300 jobs were being created by the participants in the BPN program. Kyrgyzstan’s unemployment rate is historically around 50%, so each new employment opportunity is significant, especially among Christians, who make up less than one-half of 1% of the population. Nurlan lives in Karakol, a city just 100 miles from China’s western border and 600 miles north of Kabul, Afghanistan. Not only is he expanding the building that houses his printing business, he’s also using his new profits to support his church and a ministry to the homeless and drug-abusers in Karakol. A group of U.S. and European businessmen will be touring Kyrgyzstan in September. For information on how you can join this group, contact either of the BPN offices in Portland, Oregon (info@bpn.org) or Bern, Switzerland (info@bpn.ch).

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