PEI was released considering the following assumptions: a) The immigrant population has shown higher rates of entrepreneurship than nationals; b) In the host countries immigrants face obstacles in the creation of a business (communication, not knowing the law, not knowing the services related with business creation, mistrust on the part of suppliers, institutions, customers); c) Most recently, the unemployment rate is higher among immigrants than among nationals. On the other hand: a) There are advantages in creating businesses promoted by immigrants which are reflected in both countries (origin countries and in host countries) ; b) The business implementation allows for professional and social integration of immigrants. In order to overcome the announced challenges and facilitate the access to existing supports, the ACIDI I.P., in cooperation with local institutions, executesthis project that is focused on the various steps associated with setting up a business and that allows the structuring of business ideas that are still abstract. The main goals of the project are:

• To develop an entrepreneurial attitude towards life, promoting self-esteem and self-confidence;
• To develop personal, social and managing competences in immigrant communities, which are fundamental to new businesses and to run their own business;
• To increase the number of new companies among immigrant communities;
• To link immigrant entrepreneurs to existing entrepreneurship support measures and programs, developed by other public and private organizations;
• To promote the formalization of already existing informal business.

The target population of the project is composed of immigrants with a business idea to be implemented. Once the main activity of the project is not a theoretical course it's very important to have and show (at the moment of enrolment) an idea that will be explored and structured during the activities of the project. The number of people mentioned in the Results (1450) is exactly the people who will be involved in the project.

The project intervention is divided into two interdependent areas: a) Training sessions to support immigrants in the creation of their businesses; b) Subsequent meetings to accomplish the business plan and its implementation. These actions are developed in parallel with the following intersection points:

• Empowerment of a training team specialized in entrepreneurship;
• Mobilization and empowerment of the partner institutions;
• Mobilization of other key players (financial institutions, non-profitable organizations, as well as state institutions related to business creation).

The execution of the project and the activities directed to beneficiaries regard the next steps:

1. all local institutions involved in the project promote the activities;
2. local entities identify the participants;
3. the courses begin in the partner institutions (this course involves collective sessions and parallel individual meetings).
4. after the beginning of the training sessions, the meetings between the entrepreneurs and the trainer (as a consultant of the entrepreneurs) take place.

The relevance of this project has been witnessed by the participants at the end of each course, identifying PEI as a response that allows the organization and systematization of the business idea, which shows in a realistic way the efforts that are needed to formalize a business. Throughout the last five years the project reached 1450 people (mostly women). In the end of the training sessions 777 received a certificate of attendance and 305 business ideas received a letter of recommendation. This is a document signed by the trainer informing that the business idea was structured during the course and presents several of its characteristics. During the last five years, 75 businesses were set up involving 80 participants.

The project underwent two external evaluations: one in 2009 and the other in 2010. These evaluations were focused in the planning and in the development of the project. These evaluations were important to the continuous improvement of the project, observing if it is efficient and effective. Recommendations (general topics):

• Mobilize a greater number of partners (including those that have other supports in the business creation process) and stimulate the articulation between these institutions;
• Improve the support course materials;
• Improve the screening process of participants;
• Increase the period of time of the activities. Globally the project has been evaluated positively, reinforcing its importance and interest in its continuation. There will be another external evaluation process in 2013 in order to analyse the results and the impact of the project considering its framework on public policies to promote employability.

The project is financed by the European fund for the integration of third countries nationals (European Commission) – FEINPT and by the ACIDI. Total Budget (EUR) (2009-2013) – €875.000,00 (approximately). Number and type of workers needed: a) 3 full-time project managers; b) 1 part-time technical staff member in each of the partner institutions (so far 22 people have been involved); c) 1 teacher for each course and personal meetings with the entrepreneurs (14 trainers were involved in 98 courses).