The SMEPDO, Ministry of Industry and Commerce has organised the award ceremony to the winners of Business Plan Contest 2009 in the National Culture Hall, 25 Feb, 2010. Ms. Thipsouda Phicit, 22, has won first prize and has received the prize of 10 million Kip and certificate by Dr. Nam Vingaket, Minister of Industry and Commerce. The objective of the contest was to encourage youth and young students to consider running a business instead of looking for jobs with the government, private companies or NGOs after graduate.The first round winners received two million Kip each and second round winners each received one million Kip. The awards ceremony was supported by GTZ through the Lao-German Cooperation for Human Resources Development for Market Economics, Lao Brewery Company, Lao Telecom, Lao Development Bank, Phongsavanh Bank.