The program, "Fikr wa Talash", or "Dream and Achieve" in English, is loosely based on the popular "Dragons Den" series, in which contestants pitch their business ideas to a panel of tycoons in return for cash for their companies.
The program, the latest in a series of popular reality shows that have taken Afghanistan by storm, is more than just entertainment. Its supporters hope that by encouraging small businesses, the program will help Afghanistan's economy become more self-reliant.
"Small and medium-sized businesses, which are by far the largest employer, be it small self-employed farmers selling a surplus or a shop-keeper, trader ... are the key to achieving such self reliance," said David Elliot, a development consultant for the program's makers.
"Yet business skills and thinking, such as financial planning, marketing, competitive strategy, are all relatively new concepts that are needed to create a stronger, more resilient and healthy private sector, capable of being the 'engine of growth' for the economy," added Elliot.
Decades of war have devastated the Afghan economy and infrastructure and Afghanistan is still one of the world's poorest countries despite receiving billions of dollars of international aid since 2001.
The Afghan government relies on aid for about 90 percent of its total expenditure. Unemployment stands at around 40 percent with 80 percent of Afghanistan's labor force employed in agriculture. GDP per capita stood at just USD 1000 in 2007.
The show's sponsors, including U.S. government aid agency USAID, mobile phone operator Roshan and Bank-e-Milli, saw the program as an opportunity to foster an entrepreneurial spirit among ordinary Afghans.
The first series ended in August with the final contestant winning USD 20,000 towards his plastic recycling business.
It was broadcast on Tolo TV, Afghanistan's most popular channel which also aired the hugely popular Afghan Star, a homegrown version of the U.S. singing contest, American Idol.
Republished permission FOCUS information Agency
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Published by Mike Hitchen, Mike Hitchen Consulting
