ENTERPRISING Donegal Week began on Monday with a packed programme of events to encourage enterprise and entrepreneurship in the county.

A wide range of workshops, seminars and business briefings were held around the county culminating in the Enterprising Donegal Business Awards tonight (Friday).

Donegal County Enterprise Board hosted the event. All events were free (with the exception of tonight's Awards dinner).

Minister Pat the Cope Gallagher launched the week. He said it had been designed to address critically important issues that are immediately relevant to the small business community of this county.

"It is packed with talks, presentations, seminars, workshops and awards - all contributing to fostering, promoting and expanding the county's base of entrepreneurial activity in support of local wealth generation and sustainable employment.

"Donegal is playing its part in contributing to the fact that Ireland is now one of the most entrepreneurial countries in the world. Donegal entrepreneurs are playing a crucial role in building successful and forward looking companies vital to the continued success and wealth creation of the economy here in the North West. These entrepreneurs are the go-getters and creators of new wealth in Donegal and need to be both encouraged and saluted," Minister Gallagher said.

The Donegal Enterprise Board provides a variety of interventions - from financial aids, to management and skills training, to mentoring, to general business advisory services - which deliver practical help and benefit to fledgling and expanding small business operations up and down the county.

Last year Donegal County Enterprise Board provided direct financial assistance to 29 projects in the county; provided over 100 businesses and promoters with one-to-one mentoring during the year and had over 420 participants engaging in its training and management development programmes.

"I would encourage anyone interested in their own business or in supporting businesses to take some time to go through the schedule of events planned for the next five days and identify at least one event which they feel would be relevant to them. Then use it as an opportunity to learn and contribute not only to Enterprising Donegal Week but in the ongoing process of working to make Donegal a better place to do business and a better place to live," Minister Gallagher added.