Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation trains 60 SME executives from La Rioja in the search for export agents

Earlier today, the Managing Director of the La Rioja Economic Development Agency (ADER), Javier Ureña, and the Managing Director of the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation, Martí Solà, opened the second training day of the First Export Programme in La Rioja, which focused on the search for an agent or importer in the destination country. The session was held at Think TIC – the La Rioja Technology Centre – and attended by 60 business leaders and managers from small- and medium-sized enterprises throughout the region.

The First Export Programme is a comprehensive, free and ongoing training plan project run by the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation, aimed at providing free training and advice for SMEs from throughout Spain who wish to embark on export activity for the first time. To date, 120 business leaders and executives from companies in La Rioja have taken part in the programme; in other words, 11% of everyone registered for the programme nationwide since its launch in Spain in 2014.

Those attending today’s session, entitled “Finding an agent or importer: Search, identification and negotiation”, received an introduction to the topic from the Executive Director of the foundation’s First Export Programme, Emilio Segura, who spoke about the key issues that should be considered when negotiating in other cultural environments.

The Foreign Trade Manager of CaixaBank in Aragon and La Rioja, Carlos Lafuente, spoke about the financial products used in export with regard to ongoing relations with agents, distributors and importers. In turn, the partner from the law firm J&A Garrigues SLP, Ignacio Eróstegui, spoke about the legal side of international negotiation with trading partners and, in particular, tackled the precautionary measures that should be adopted before establishing such international trade relations.

The advantages offered by the Internet for building an international network and the operation of online stores for commercialising products in other countries was the topic discussed by the Co-founder and Director of JIG, Ignacio Gurría.

Finally, the Export Line Manager of ADER, Carmen Alonso, spoke about the Regional Government of La Rioja’s internationalisation plan that includes financial aid to foster foreign trade, the ADER network internationalisation service and various other services aimed at companies to support their internationalisation process.

A new initiative from the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation in La Rioja

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.

The Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation, founded in 1992, focuses its activities around promoting information, training and increased public awareness on improving energy efficiency and environmental protection. It also promotes cultural activities through its Gas Museum, which are aimed at preserving and spreading knowledge about the historical and cultural heritage of the sector. Its international activities are carried out in Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Morocco, Italy, Moldova and South Africa.

LOGROÑO (SPAIN), 10 DEC 2015

Communication