The MIraGE Trainings – an opportunity for a better integration of immigrants on the Romanian labour market

Novapolis Association held online trainings on entrepreneurship for migrants from Brasov and Timisoara counties, Romania

The effective integration of migrants into the host society is a key challenge currently facing Europe and essential to the successful management of migration. Labour market participation of immigrants in Romania is one of the main topic where Novapolis Association focus its activities wanting to make a change for TCNs and to help them to better integrate on the Romanian labour market in order to maximize the benefits and the contribution of immigration on the Romanian economy.

In this context, in Romania, Novapolis Association held the online trainings Migrant Entrepreneur in Romania for TCNs. The online trainings took place during December 2020 and January 2021, and aimed to promote entrepreneurship as a key factor of access, integration and competitiveness on the labour market among non-EU citizens with a legal stay in Romania.

The online trainings were implemented targeting two big cities of Romania were live large communities of migrants, respectively Brasov and Timisoara counties, and were held in the Romanian, English and Arabic languages.

The training sessions were interactive, with numerous applications and practical exercises, and brought together, both future and active entrepreneurs, who had the opportunity to debate with experts and trainers, on updated information, on what it means to set up and run a new business in Romania. Approximately 40 Third-Country Nationals participated in the trainings and discussed about how to achieve a realistic business plan connected to the current economic market from Romania, in order to help them in taking the first steps on the labour market.

The migrants learned how to grow and develop their business, learned more about the national legislative framework regarding the employment of immigrants in Romania, about the available funding sources and support services, as well as about nongovernmental organisations that provide assistance for migrants and refugees in Romania.

The online training benefited from the support of Migrant Integration Centre Brasov, AIDRom Timisoara and Filantropia Association Oradea that also presented their activities regarding integration of migrants at local and national level.

“It was excellent information and trainers! Good to find out about funding, programs for start-ups in different sectors like IT, agriculture, and social economy! Thank you!” participant from Brasov

“For me it was very important this training because I had the opportunity to interact with other entrepreneurs and to find out tips about what to do and do not when opening a business.” participant from Timisoara

“Thank you for this opportunity, highly appreciated. Thank you for this important information about how migrants can develop a business in Romania.” Participant from Oradea

Photo’s credit: Photo by Novapolis Association