UNITAR Trains 35 Mideast Youth in Business Skills

• On 11 February, UNITAR marked the successful completion of an in-person entrepreneurship training workshop in Japan under the Japan-funded 2025 programme "RISE LAB: Igniting Youth Potential through Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Economic Resilience."
• The workshop concluded with final business presentations and a certificate ceremony celebrating the achievements of 35 participants from Egypt, Iraq and Lebanon.
• The business and project plan addressed challenges in the region's agri-food sector and highlighted innovative solutions promoting economic resilience, job creation and sustainable development in their respective countries.

17 February 2026, Hiroshima, Japan - On 11 February 2026, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) marked the successful completion of an intensive in-person entrepreneurship training workshop in Japan under the 2025 programme " RISE LAB: Igniting Youth Potential through Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Economic Resilience. " The workshop concluded with final business presentations and a certificate ceremony celebrating the achievements of 35 participants from Egypt, Iraq and Lebanon.

Supported by the Government and People of Japan, the 2025 RISE LAB programme has trained early-stage entrepreneurs, executives of existing businesses, and micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) leaders across the three participating countries.

This year, UNITAR was fortunate to host a diverse and dynamic group of young entrepreneurs from Iraq, Egypt, and Lebanon. Their varied backgrounds and perspectives brought tremendous energy to the programme and enriched the learning environment.

As the final phase of the programme, an in-person workshop was held in Tokyo and Hiroshima from 3 to 11 February 2026. The workshop curriculum was designed to maximize both learning and long‑term retention. It focused not only on knowledge acquisition but also on strengthening critical skills and practical abilities essential for entrepreneurial success. Participants engaged in interactive sessions, hands‑on exercises, and collaborative problem‑solving activities that encouraged active learning and real-world application.

• Study tours to local companies, including Satake Corporation (Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima) and TROMSO Co., Ltd. (Onomichi, Hiroshima), where participants gained practical understanding of approaches to sustainable business practices, operational excellence and innovation in the agri-food sector through facilities visits and discussions with company leaders and representatives. Seeing these practices firsthand helped participants connect theory with practice in a meaningful way.
• Peace education in Hiroshima, where participants attended three presentations by Mr. Takehiro Kagawa, the Chairperson of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, Dr. Luli van der Does, the Director of the Center for Peace and an Associate Professor at Hiroshima University, and Ms. Koko Kondo, for a hibakusha (atomic-bombing survivor) testimony and learned about the city's post-war reconstruction and resilience.
• Expert lectures on entrepreneurship, AI and technology, leadership, team building and partnership. Other topics included finance, marketing, and project management, adjusted to the context of the Middle East and North Africa region.
• Group mentorship and one-on-one coaching sessions led by both international and regional experts. These sessions were tailored to the priorities and challenges of the Middle East and North Africa region, ensuring that the guidance was not only relevant but immediately applicable to their local contexts.

The training concluded on 11 February with a final presentation session, where each participant presented a ready-to-launch business proposal developed throughout the programme. The business and project plan addressed challenges in the region's agri-food sector and highlighted innovative solutions promoting economic resilience, job creation and sustainable development in their respective countries.

UNITAR recognized participants' dedication and progress during a certificate ceremony, marking the completion of the training programme.

Voices of the Participants:

This programme was new and eye-opening for me. I learned practical entrepreneurship skills, including pricing models, market access strategies, and key tips that will help me launch my project." - Nour Elden Tarek, UNITAR Training Participant, Egypt

This workshop was a major turning point for me. It strengthened my strategic thinking, financial planning, and risk management, and helped me make my project clearer and more practical. The mentorship and tools gave me the confidence to move forward and aim for real impact. I'm truly grateful to the UNITAR team and to the participants. It was a fantastic group to learn and work with. "―Rebin Hamarashid, UNITAR Training Participant, Iraq

"The RISE LAB field tours gave us rare, behind-the-scenes access to large-scale operations, helping us see how complex systems work in practice. Combined with sessions led by international experts, the experience connected global perspectives with real-world application." －Rayan Sadek, UNITAR Training Participant, Lebanon

UNITAR remains committed to supporting sustainable business and innovation for inclusive growth across the world.