Interview with Loden foundation

A brief interview with Liam Dorji
( program officer)  of Loren foundation,)

Loden foundation usually helps the new entrepreneur with various funding schemes. So how such findings are done and what are the funding procedures.

we make an announcement  firstly.  And before we used to do annually but now we usually do twice a year where young people can come with their new business proposal. 
Then we have the panel that review the proposal and select as per the criteria we have set. 

How far is the selection fair and just because I heard that some of my friends who got a good idea were rejected. 

Our selection process are very much fair as we only the Loren foundation officials don't do the selection solely. There where officials from outside the country and other organizations who does the review and the selection of the proposal. In this way our selection is fair.
Till now how many projects have been funded and which are the most successful?
Since 2012 we have funded 120 projects so far.  Where some of them are greener way Bhutan Media and Communication (BMC)  Serbithang pickle production. And dairy farms in Tashigang, Paro. We also award recognitions to those who do good in their business.  But it's not through the process that who earns a lot but we have certain criteria for that.

How do you encourage the people to embrace entrepreneurship skills to the people. 

We usually create awareness campaign and provide free trainings so that people could turn up easily. We also donot demand or the person availing do not have to go complicated proposal. We have simple guidelines that help in writing a proposal.

What are the challenges?

As such there are no difficulties or challenges but to some extent people do have excess to information and there is fear in misuse of funds.  So we do not give the fund altogether or at once like if the fund is of 1 million first we give 0.5 million to start. Then after looking at the progress we find them gradually.