Highland Opportunity Limited (HOL), the enterprise trust owned by the Highland Council, has recently completed a nine month project in partnership with the Podlaska Regional Development Foundation (PRDF) of North East Poland. The project was assisted by funding from the EU. The result is the creation of a new micro-loan scheme to assist new businesses in that region.

The Micro-Start project involved sharing with PRDF staff some of HOL’s experience over sixteen years of running a revolving loan scheme to help start and grow small business. HOL staff also visited Poland to help create and promote the micro-loan scheme, train people and assist with recruitment. A delegation of 20 Polish politicians, businessmen and trade union leaders visited Inverness and the Highlands in February of this year to see the work of Highland Opportunity at first hand.

The project completion was marked by a National Loan Conference in the Polish tourist town of Augustow on the 27^th and 28^th of June, together with the official opening of PRDF’s new offices in the town. Councillor Sandy Park, the Provost of Nairn was invited to address the conference in his role of Chairman of HOL, together with David Owen, the HOL Company Manager.

David Owen said, " This project has created a tremendous sense of partnership between HOL and PRDF, which our Polish partners want to build upon. We can see many possibilities for wider economic co-operation between the Highlands and the Podlasie region of Poland as that country moves towards membership of the EU."