Webinar on “Boost your business in the EU: internationalization and capacity building for SMEs”

On March 10th, the  Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg and the  Fundación Equipo Humano organized in the frame of the launch event of the  MobiliseSME Programme, the webinar called “Boost your business in the EU: internationalization and capacity building for SMEs”.  

 The online event was welcomed by Juan Rodríguez-Villa Matons, President of the Chamber.  

He expressed the aim of the association to continue supporting entrepreneurship and SMEs through EU initiatives such as the MobiliseSME programme, where the Chamber is the coordinator of the project, and to join forces to face the current challenges and those that are yet to come.   

Denis Genton, Head of Unit of DG EMPL, presented the efforts, policies and legal instruments of the European Commission to maintain free mobility of workers in the Single Market. He explained the European Job Mobility Portal EURES and ended his intervention stressing the importance of the MobiliseSME programme to contribute to upgrade skills of European workers through free labor mobility during the recovery process post COVID-19.  

Crispin Waymouth, Deputy Head of Unit DG GROW, highlighted the three main objectives of the European Commission for SMEs: sustainability and the green economy, digitalization, and resilience. He mentioned Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) as a contact point for SMEs with experienced business consultants specialized in internationalization and presented the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) as one of the European projects to foster international cooperation among European entrepreneurs. The Chamber is also taking part in this programme as intermediate organization for Belgium and Luxembourg.  

During the panel discussion, Beatriz Rios, EU reporter, mediated the discussion and directed the attendees’ questions to the panelists.  

Jose Enrique Val, EU Project Manager and co-cordinator of the MobiliseSME programme at Fundación Equipo Humano, talked about the objectives of this European programme, being the main one to promote SMEs internationalization and to boost their capacity building, staff skills and knowledge. Participating SMEs can enjoy multiple benefits, such as international expansion, creation of new products or services, market research and wide their networks abroad, between others.  

Then, Noelia Sánchez, Project manager and coordinator of the MobiliseSME programme from the Chamber, explained the registration process for companies that want to participate in this pilot project, as well as the practical and financial support provided by the organizations that act as local contact points of the MobiliseSME programme.  

Lastly, attendees could enjoy the testimonials of the two first SMEs that have participated in the MobiliseSME programme. Marta Templado, CEO of Turiart, and Claudio Cristofori, CEO of J&K Viaggi, explained how they found in the MobiliseSME programme the perfect opportunity to further expand their business while their companies in the tourism sector had been affected by the COVID-19 crisis.  

During the Q&A session, assistants had the opportunity to ask further questions regarding the MobiliseSME programme, with topics such as the future and scope of the MobiliseSME project to help European SMEs with their main challenges and barriers, tackling the current COVID-19 situation.  

After the webinar, a 1:1 meeting session took place for those participants interested in having tailored meetings with MobiliseSME local contact points to further information about the programme. 

From the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, we would like to thank Denis Genton, Crispin Waymouth, Marta Templado, Claudio Cristofori, Fundación Equipo Humano, and all the attendees for their participation. 

Presentation of the EYE and MobiliseSME programmes as part of the EU OPEN FOR BUSINESS day

On the 21st of October, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg participated in the event EU Open for Business which took place in Luxembourg.

This annual event, coordinated by the European Commission, aims to highlight European SMEs by promoting the business spirit and helping to create an environment more supportive for small and medium enterprises.

This edition was focused on the economic recovery post-coronavirus and how SMEs in Luxembourg can access to finance, find new business partners, and adapt for the future. This 2-day digital event presented the different EU programmes available for entrepreneurs and SMEs in Luxembourg. Additionally, the visitors had the opportunity to virtually visit the stands of the local supporting organizations and get first-hand information from their experts.

In the context of the event, Soraya Bravo, Project Manager at the Chamber, presented the general objectives, requirements and registration process of the programmes Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs and MobiliseSME.

She highlighted that both programmes offer a great added value for entrepreneurs and SMEs, such the exchange of knowledge and experience in the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs; or the possibility to boost the internationalization in the MobiliseSME.

Local organizations were very interested in promoting both initiatives and the participation of entrepreneurs and SMEs from Luxembourg, especially in the recently launched MobiliseSME programme.

They also stressed the opportunity that this crisis offers to small and medium-sized companies to reinvent themselves and internationalize, and invited them to take advantage of the European programs and projects at their disposal.

The Chamber thanks DG Grow, the Enterprise Europe Network and the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce for the invitation and looks forward to collaborating with these institutions to promote both projects.

 

If you would like to receive more information about the program Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs or MobiliseSME, please send an email to:

Contact people: Soraya Bravo | Noelia Sánchez Bravo

Email: erasmus4youngentrepreneurs@e-camara.com | mobilisesme@e-camara.com

 

Launch of the MobiliseSME pilot project, a mobility exchange programme between staff working in SMEs

The past October 5th, the kick of meeting of the MobiliseSME pilot project was held, a mobility exchange programme between staff working in SMEs, of which the Chamber is coordinator together with Fundación Equipo Humano.

The first meeting of the consortium took place electronically due to travel restrictions because of the Covid pandemic.

During this meeting, both coordinators of the programme, shared with the rest of the members of the consortium the main guidelines for managing the programme locally and promoting the participation of SMEs.

Furthermore, Fundación Equipo Humano presented its first experience of temporary cross-border secondment between a Spanish SME and an Italian SME. This secondment will be partially subsidized by the European Union. The host Italian company will enhance its business opportunities by establishing new contacts in the Spanish market, while the Spanish SME will develop the skills and abilities of its manager.

Companies interested in participating in this programme can contact one of the local organizations that manage this EU programme.

 

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

  • Sending companies

Employers with more than three years of professional experience who have worked for at least one year for a registered SME, who wish to internationalize, improve their knowledge of a specific market or get access to it through temporary cross-border secondments in another EU country.

  • Hosting companies

Owners or co-owners with more than three years of professional activity, who are active and present in the day-to-day business of the company, whether in an executive or non-executive position, and who seek the opportunity of expansion or consolidation in other European market.

For more information, visit here or contact the Chamber at mobilisesme@e-camara.com