UfM sets roadmap for SMEs in the Mediterranean

The Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfMS) has unveiled its roadmap for small and medium sized enterprises at an SME core-group meeting held in Barcelona on 6 June. A press release said the Secretariat presented an action plan for project promotion and coordination, launching studies, and creating an international network, which can interface with economic institutions and attract the business community. This initial presentation was followed by a session on cooperation and synergies and by a discussion on counter-guarantee mechanisms, which concluded the workshop. “The SME core-group was created to enable contact between UfMS and institutions supporting SMEs with a view to promote sharing of information and enhanced coordination”, said the UfM’s Deputy Secretary General for Business Development and Funding Coordination, Mr. Lino Cardarelli.“The group will be meeting several times a year and we hope it can deliver soon tangible results.” The roadmap for SMEs consists of three main steps: building a network of stakeholders and partners, tacking stock of existing initiatives in order to identify areas for additional support, and identifying core priority areas for the UfMS. The meeting brought together 18 participants from 11 institutions and entities, including the European Commission, financial institutions (DG Enterprise, EIB and AfD), think tanks and consultants (CEPS, IEMed and Sabaudia), in addition to institutions which provide support to SMEs (Promos, ANIMA, and European Training Foundation) and representatives of business networks (ASCAME). In line with the UfMS work programme for 2011, the primary task of the Business Development and Funding Coordination Division (BDFC) is the implementation of the Mediterranean Business Development Initiative aimed at assisting existing entities in the Mediterranean partner countries operating in support of MSMEs. (ENPI Info Centre)