Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation holds the first session of its First Export Programme in Toledo
The First Export Programme is a Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation project to provide free training and advice to SMEs in any sector who want to begin exporting.
Approximately 550 companies have signed up to the programme so far, of which about 10% are based in Castilla-La Mancha.
The initiative represents another step forward in GAS NATURAL FENOSA's commitment to developing the economy, industry and businesses in Castilla-La Mancha through the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation.
Earlier today, the Councillor for Employment and Economic Affairs of the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha, Carmen Casero, and the Managing Director of the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation, Martí Solà, officially launched the first training day of the First Export Programme in Castilla-La Mancha at the Toledo School of Regional Administration during an event that was attended by over 50 business owners and managers from small- and medium-sized enterprises in the region.
These training days form part of the partnership agreement signed today between the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation and the Institute for Overseas Economic Promotion (Spanish acronym: IPEX), under which the two entities commit to provide training and promote those services aimed at helping and offering advice on export activity by small- and medium-sized enterprises in this autonomous region.
The First Export Programme is a project being run by the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation to provide free training and advice to SMEs from throughout Spain wishing to embark on export activity for the first time through a comprehensive, free and ongoing training plan. Approximately 550 companies have signed up to the programme so far, of which about 10% are based in Castilla-La Mancha.
Those attending today’s session, entitled “First Export: A surmountable challenge for any SME”, listened to an introduction from the Executive Director of the First Export Programme, Emilio Segura, who discussed key aspects in self-diagnosing the export capacities of an SME.
Business experts from various sectors, institutions and the public administration services also took part in the session. For example, the Foreign Trade Director at La Caixa, Roberto Rincón, who examined ways to reduce possible financial risk by adopting certain charging and payment methods in foreign trade operations.
The Product Manager at DHL Express Servicios, Marta Belloso, provided some practical advice on how to avoid incidents and optimise international transport and customs procedures, while the International Trade Manager at Iberinform (Crédito y Caución Group), Enrique Fernández, highlighted some guidelines for finding the ideal partner.
The Director of the Institute for Overseas Economic Promotion of Castilla-La Mancha (Spanish acronym: IPEX), Ángel Prieto, spoke about effective internationalisation strategies for SMEs wishing to embark on export activity and presented a few export companies as examples.
Finally, the day concluded with testimonials from Eduardo Fontecha and Rafael Chacón as representatives of Industrias Mecanoeléctricas Fontecha Yébenes, S.L. (IMEFY), an SME based in Castilla-La Mancha that has enjoyed considerable export success.
First Export Programme
First Export Programme The First Export Programme run by the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation focuses on lending support to SMEs as they take their first steps towards exporting anywhere in the world through a comprehensive, free and ongoing training plan that includes in-person and online training sessions, as well as personalised advice and mentoring. Participants learn about international marketing, business management and pricing, among other subjects.
The programme launched by the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation in Argentina in 2001 was implemented in Spain for the first time last year. To take part in the programme, interested companies need to provide a CIF (tax ID number) and sign up for the programme on the website: www.fundacionnaturgy.org.
A new initiative from the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation in Castilla-La Mancha
Implementation of this programme to help SMEs in Castilla-La Mancha is another step in GAS NATURAL FENOSA's commitment to this region of Spain, where its foundation’s activity contributes to the development of the local economy, industry and businesses, thereby generating wealth, jobs and progress.
The Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation, founded in 1992, works to promote information and training and raise social awareness of improvements in energy efficiency and technological innovation in the field of energy while respecting and protecting the environment. It promotes cultural activities through its Gas Museum that are aimed at preserving and publicising the sector's historical and cultural heritage. Its international operations take place in Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Morocco, Italy and Moldova.
TOLEDO (SPAIN), 18 FEB 2015
Communication
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