GSME NEWS August 2009 
China NGO Projects Exhibition
Date: Aug 13, 2009 - Aug 14, 2009
Location: Tsinghua University, Gymnasium
Beijing, China
Organizer: China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation; Narada Foundation; China Nonprofit Organization Promotion Association
http://www.chinabusinessreview.com/conference-calendar.phpChina International Energy Saving & Environmental Products & Technology Exposition
Sep 10, 2009 - Sep 12, 2009
Location: Suzhou SND International Expo Center
Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
Organizer: Suzhou Municipal Economic and Trade Committee
http://www.chinabusinessreview.com/conference-calendar.phpEconomically Seizing Power: Encouraging our Sons and Parents Smart Fair
Date : Saturday, August, 01, 2009
Contact : Casandra R. Stroy 954-871-1598 or
Location : L.A. Lee Branch YMCA 408 N.W. 14th Streeace Fort Lauderdale, FL
The Fair is one of the sorority's international initiatives designed to help the non-traditional entrepreneur, improve economic and financial development, strengthen the growth of the Black family, and to develop ongoing and lasting healthy lifestyles. Through this collaborative effort with MODCO, YMCA and Alpha Phi Alpha, the goal is to connect youth and parents with community resources and tips to improve their individual quality of life. Economically Seizing Power: Encouraging Our Sons and Parents Time: 9:00a.m.-12:00p.m. Location: L.A. Lee Branch YMCA 408 N.W. 14th Terrace Fort Lauderdale, FL
smartfair@zetarhoomega.org
China NGO Projects Exhibition
Date: Aug 13, 2009 - Aug 14, 2009
Location: Tsinghua University, Gymnasium
Beijing, China
Organizer: China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation; Narada Foundation; China Nonprofit Organization Promotion Association
http://www.chinabusinessreview.com/conference-calendar.phpEconomically Seizing Power: Encouraging our Sons and Parents Smart Fair
Date : Saturday, August, 01, 2009
Contact : Casandra R. Stroy 954-871-1598 or
Location : L.A. Lee Branch YMCA 408 N.W. 14th Streeace Fort Lauderdale, FL
The Fair is one of the sorority's international initiatives designed to help the non-traditional entrepreneur, improve economic and financial development, strengthen the growth of the Black family, and to develop ongoing and lasting healthy lifestyles. Through this collaborative effort with MODCO, YMCA and Alpha Phi Alpha, the goal is to connect youth and parents with community resources and tips to improve their individual quality of life. Economically Seizing Power: Encouraging Our Sons and Parents Time: 9:00a.m.-12:00p.m. Location: L.A. Lee Branch YMCA 408 N.W. 14th Terrace Fort Lauderdale, Fl
smartfair@zetarhoomega.org
Annual Asian American Business Expo
Date: Thursday, August, 20, 2009
Location: Arlington Convention Center- Arlington-Texas
The US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce-Southwest Region will present the 8th Annual Asian American Business Expo. The Expo will be held at the Arlington Convention Center, 1200 Ballpark Way, Arlington, Texas on Thursday August 20, 2009.The purpose of this expo is to bring together Asian American suppliers, government agencies and major corporations under one roof for business to business matching opportunities.
http://www.uspaacc.comeINDIA 2009, event on Information and Communication Technologies
This three-day international conference and exhibition is a unique platform for knowledge sharing in different domains of ICT for development and facilitates multi-stakeholder partnerships and networking among governments, industry, academia and civil society organisations of different countries, including the host country- India. The objective is to bring together ICT experts, practitioners, business leaders and stakeholders of the region onto one platform, through keynote addresses, paper presentations, thematic workshops and exhibitions. In short, the event provides an excellent opportunity for participants to interact with a wide and diverse development community.
http://www.eindia.net.in/2009/abouteindia.aspFifth Global conference on combating counterfeiting and piracy: Developing tangible solutions to current challenges
3 December 2009, Cancun, Mexico
The global forum for shaping practical strategies to combat counterfeiting and piracy worldwide through maximum interaction and dialogue, with special sessions devoted to the increasing problems in Mexico, Central and South AmericaThis Fifth Global Congress is critically important as it takes place during what is likely to be a sustained period of economic crisis.
http://www.ccapcongress.net/2nd Agriculture Leadership Summit 2009
Date 4 - 5 Sept, 09
Venue Taj Palace, New Delhi
Theme "Building Foundation for Sustained Growth"
A large number of dignitaries from the Government and industry, national experts and other stake-holders are expected to participate in the two day long apex event on agriculture policy, technology, and business and trade related issues. The Summit Committee is chaired by Dr. MS Swaminathan. The event is combined with Agriculture Leadership Awards, release of Agriculture Year Book and parallel AgriExpo 2009. The Summit is expected to come out with far reaching recommendations to set the direction to growth and reforms for Indian agriculture to unleash its potential.
Singapore Human Capital Summit: People Strategies for Asia
Date: September 29-30, 2009,
Venue: Raffles City Convention Centre, Singapore
Jointly organised by the Singapore Ministry of Manpower and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency, the Summit is the premier people management and leadership development conference in Asia. This is an event where business leaders; experts in academia and consultancies; as well as industry and government practitioners gather to discuss latest trends, ideas and practices in managing and developing Asian workforce and talent.
Themed "People Strategies for Asia", this exclusive summit offers unparalleled insights into talent management and leadership development in Asia. The forum provides a platform for CEOs and HR community to sharpen their human capital strategies as a competitive advantage for their companies.
http://www.singaporehcsummit.com/sign-up/index.htmlINNOVATION IN MIND
15–17 September 2009
Location: Lund, Sweden
European Union Year of Innovation, Lund University, Region Skåne and partners will arrange one of the year’s most important international conferences – INNOVATION IN MIND. This will explore new approaches to innovation and illustrate important innovation issues in a global perspective, at creating interchanges among different areas of knowledge, and at contributing to a better innovation climate. The point of departure is that all innovation begins in human consciousness
http://www.innovationinmind.se/22nd SEAANZ Conference, Start small - Think big
Date: 2 September 2009
Massey University in collaboration with the Small Enterprise Association of Australia and New Zealand - the Australasian affiliate of the International Council for Small Business
The 2009 SEAANZ Conference in Wellington, New Zealand will enable
- Meet with leading researchers in the field.
- Engage in dialogue on the latest issues concerning the SME sector with policymakers, educators and practitioners.
- Network with key figures from organisations linked to the SME sector from Australasia.
- Socialise and enjoy Massey Wellington’s hospitality and friendly atmosphere
http://seaanzconference.massey.ac.nz/4th European Conference on Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Date: 10-11 September 2009
Venue: The University of Antwerp, Belgium
The University of Antwerp would host the 4th European Conference on Entrepreneurship and Innovation in September 2009. In the light of the European Lisbon goals, the importance of the conference topics cannot be underestimated. Entrepreneurship and innovation should be the driving force in the transition of the Western economies towards knowledge-intensive economies – a necessity to maintain our current living standards. Knowledge creation and dissemination to society are indispensable to advance into the next era.
http://academic-conferences.org/ecei/ecei2009/ecei09-home.htm
SMEs in Indonesia upbeat: Survey
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Indonesia are upbeat going into the second semester, with over 80 percent of them expecting to increase their spending in the second half of the year, a survey reveals. The survey, conducted by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd (HSBC), shows that most of the small and medium businesses expect the economy to perform even better in the second half of the year. “The key drivers of business confidence are the nation’s economic growth, the SME’s smaller reliance on exports and the SMEs’ ability to maintain market demand by producing quality products that meet local demand,” said HSBC senior vice president of business banking Jeffrey C. Tjoeng, on Tuesday. The survey, which is based on the bank’s business deals with SMEs during the first six months of the year, involves 301 SMEs with a turnover of less than US$10 million in Greater Jakarta, operating in sectors ranging from import and export, finance, manufacturing and transportation. There are 300,000 SMEs in Greater Jakarta, excluding informal and micro sectors.Sixty-percent of the SMEs surveyed are confident the country’s GDP will continue growing, as they believe local demand will rise as a result of people’s strong purchasing power.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/07/29/smes-indonesia-upbeat-survey.htmlFear of Legal Action Puts Small Firms off Redundancy
A QUARTER of Scottish small business owners are afraid of making redundancies for fear of being sued by disgruntled former employees, according to new research.
Fears over expensive court battles are holding some firms back from sacking staff, with 15 per cent of Scottish small and medium-sized (SMEs) reluctant to make redundancies because of the consequences. Of the owners worried about being sued by workers, 33 per cent said it was because their firm does not have the necessary funds to afford a big payout, while two-thirds would be worried that they had not followed the correct procedures in dismissing a member of staff.
http://business.scotsman.com/industry/Fear-of--legal-action.5519476.jpPolish government offers loans to SMEs in 19 banks
State-owned BGK Bank has signed agreements with 19 banks concerning a new government-sponsored programme of granting loans to companies to stabilise the economy. BGK’s offer includes special guarantee lines to secure the risks of commercial financing for micro, small and medium-sized companies.
http://www.polishmarket.com.pl/document/:20788?lang=PLHellenic Bank to lend EUR 56 mln to Cyprus SMEs
Hellenic Bank (HB) released details on how it will disburse the EUR 56 mln in loans that it will be offering to Cyprus small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with the average cost of the loans likely to hover close to 3.35%, in line with Financial Mirror predictions. The European Investment Bank signed a EUR228 mln loan agreement with Cypriot commercial banks, part of a broader strategy to boost liquidity to SMEs on July 10. As part of the agreement, Hellenic Bank signed a deal for EUR 58 mln, of which it pledged to lend EUR 28 mln in Cyprus and EUR 30 mln in Greece. The Cypriot banks have committed to match the EIB loans with their own funds available. Thus, in the case of HB, it will lend a total of EUR 56 mln in Cyprus and EUR 60 mln in Greece, for a total of EUR 116 mln.
http://www.financialmirror.com/News/Business_and_Finance/16799Qatar: Qtel and Doha Bank form alliance to aid SMEs
Qtel and Doha Bank have signed an agreement to help support Qatar’s small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) amid the global recession. Under the agreement Qtel will provide telecommunication support to members of the bank’s Tatweer programme to help them better manage costs and improve efficiencies
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/563523-qtel-and-doha-bank-form-alliance-to-aid-smesUK: Clouds begin to clear for SMEs with sunny spells ahead
The rate of decline in orders and output was significantly reduced in the three months to July for SME manufacturers, according to the latest Industrial Trends Survey from the CBI.The CBI’s survey also found SMEs are expecting a further considerable improvement over the next three months, owing to a forecasted surge in export orders. Overall orders are expected to be down by a balance of -8 per cent and output by -9 per cent. But medium sized businesses on their own are actually expecting a rise of 10 per cent in total new orders thanks to a 27 per cent climb in demand from overseas.
http://www.themanufacturer.com/uk/content/9465/Clouds_begin_to_clear_for_SMEs_with_sunny_spells_aheadPhilippines: Subsidies to help SMEs survive crisis
Providing subsidies like reduction in taxes and easy access to credit lines will help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) weather the global economic crisis, according to economists. SMEs, which represent 99.6 percent of all businesses registered in the country, are vital to the Philippine economy. They employ about 70 percent of the labor force. Victor Abola, economist at the University of Asia and the Pacific, said SMEs really needed support from the government because they have limited funding and access to credit. “The government should provide assistance to SMEs,” Abola added, also noting that the recently announced stimulus package of P330 billion does not provide any aid for SMEs. “Funding is quite important for SMEs.”
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/aug/04/yehey/top_stories/20090804top7.htmlIndia: Government of India plans to launch SME helpline
The government of India plans to launch a toll-free helpline for small and medium businesses, which would offer assistance on issues like taxation, finance, laws, marketing and other relevant topics. This was disclosed by Mr Dinesh Rai, Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Government of India. The toll-free helpline is part of our resolve to assist SMEs in day-to-day operations, finance, marketing, legal, banking and taxation domains." Rai also underlined a plan to run a National Skill and Development Centre (NSDC) to create a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem in India.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Economy/Policy/Government-of-India-plans-to-launch-SME-helpline/articleshow/4776971.cms
UNIDO, ISO reinforce partnership for sustainable development
The Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Kandeh K. Yumkella, and the Secretary General of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Rob Steele, signed a memorandum of understanding in Vienna. The new agreement is a response to the increasingly important role that standards play as policy mechanism and market tool for trade and sustainable development, including climate change mitigation. It also reflects the emerging new areas of collaboration in which shared objectives, functions and activities of the two organizations have become complementary.
http://www.egovmonitor.com/node/26452Kenya: UNIDO to construct biogas plant in western Kenya
The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation [UNIDO], in conjunction with Homabay Municipal Civic Authorities, is constructing a biogas plant in the Lake Victoria port town of Kenya, to save on wood fuel use d in drying fish in the area.UNIDO consultant, Rajan Ajaikumar said the biogas plant, being constructed at the Homabay slaughter house, will utilise wastes from the house to generate power for both lighting and cooking, among other uses.Ajaikumar told newsmen the area Constituency Development Fund (CDF) has donated 1.5 million Kenyan shillings to ensure the plant is completed as soon as possible.
http://www.afriquejet.com/news/africa-news/kenya:-unido-to-construct-biogas-plant-in-western-kenya-2009071831935.html Kenya: SMEs move closer to bidding for big State tenders
The development of small and medium sized enterprises within the East African Community is set to be hastened under a new policy aimed at easing the enterprises’ access to government tenders. Speaking at the East African Community (EAC) second annual investment conference in Nairobi, Kenya Investment Authority managing director Susan Kikwai said small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can only grow if they are exposed to large contracts by government and large businesses.Subcontracting, she said, would leave governments and large firms to concentrate on their core functions while small firms benefit from a bigger market, acquisition of high end technology, skills and value addition.
http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/-/539552/632448/-/56tmyt/-/Saudi Arabia: Saudi women trained to set up their own business
The National Commercial Bank, which has been organizing workshops on entrepreneurship as part of its social responsibility program, will support the young Saudi women by extending to them easy loans to start their business. Twelve young Saudi women who completed high school and are presently unemployed will complete a workshop “How to Start Your Own Business from Home”.
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2009080445722Tanzania: SMEs benefit from Sh260m Sido lending
The Small Industries Development Organisation (Sido) lent Sh260 million to operators of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) in Manyara Region in 2008/9. The money was invested in businesses, which created 670 jobs, with sunflower oil processors being the most beneficiaries. Sunflower is one of the leading cash crops in Manyara. Sido and the Tanzania Bureau of Standards are working on ways of improving sunflower oil processing. The plans include securing modern processing plants to processors.
http://thecitizen.co.tz/newe.php?id=14195India: Indian SMEs showing high confidence level, says HSBC Emerging Markets Small Business Confidence Monitor survey
The survey conducted on over 3,400 SMEs in 12 emerging markets from Asia, Latin America and the Middle-East also found that a majority of SMEs are planning to maintain their capital expenditure plans, while some have plans to increase them further. "There are very few SMEs who plan to cut down on capital expenditure," it said. According to the survey, employment levels are expected to remain stable with some even planning to increase the headcount. "In India, 75 per cent of the SMEs covered under the survey, plan to maintain the same level (of hirings) as last year, while 22 per cent plan to increase staff and 2 per cent plan to cut staff," it said.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Economy/Indian-SMEs-showing-high-confidence-level-says-survey/articleshow/4813236.cms UAE: 80 percent of employment market is made up of SMEs
Eighty per cent of the region's business and employment market is made up of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), This figure is as high as 86 per cent in the UAE," he added."Based on this, industry analysts believe the GCC's SME sector is poised for remarkable growth over the coming years. Number of SMEs in the UAE stood at 208,000, a market that Visa hopes will help grow its regional share of business.
http://www.business24-7.ae/Articles/2009/7/Pages/25072009/07262009_f996c8572bc0468c903ed23b87993bcb.aspxSingapore: Small outfits gain a foothold abroad with study trips
Singapore’s ‘International Business Fellowship (IBF) was designed as a scheme to educate entrepreneurs about doing business in various overseas markets. This training initiative by the government for business owners and executives is beginning to help more small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) gain a foothold in emerging markets abroad. 'The iBF executive programmes provide SMEs with an insight into the business practices, culture and systems of key overseas markets,' said Ms Khoo Wee Lin, deputy director of capability development at IE Singapore. 'And while the initial aim was educational, we have had participants who obtained business leads from the programmes.'The iBF supports all Singapore-based companies in executive training, particularly in the development of business networks in overseas markets. The programmes offer training stints for business owners or their executives at top training institutions in Central Asia, China, India, Latin America, the Middle East and countries like Vietnam and Russia.
http://business.asiaone.com/Business/SME%2BCentral/Dollars%2B%2526%2BSense/Story/A1Story20090625-150909.htmlSouth Africa: Joburg to spend R600m to fight poverty
THE City of Johannesburg will spend R600million as part of its fight against poverty, Executive Mayor Amos Masondo announced at the launch of Siyazama, an Expanded Social Package programme, in Braamfontein. Masondo said the subsidy of free basic water, sanitation, refuse removal, transport and electricity will cover any person earning less than R3366 a month.Siyazama is divided into three bands – depending on the poverty level of the beneficiary.“We measures poverty through the poverty index. It is scored out of 100 points, 70 points are based on the person’s income and personal circumstances and 30 points based on how deprived the area in which the persons lives is compared to other areas in Johannesburg.“The higher the person’s points are the poorer the city consider that person to be,” Masondo said.He said for a person to apply he or she needs to be a South African citizen with an Identity document and a copy of City account for the property they live.“If one knows their ID number, but does not have their ID, they can still register but they will have to produce and ID within six months,” he said.Masondo said fingerprints of beneficiaries would be recorded in the system to be checked in other government institutions and also be used to curb fraud.It would place a minimum of 2500 people in jobs and micro enterprises in the 2009/2010 financial year.
http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=1023371India: Anand Model should be replicated for inclusive growth
Traditional growth models are the legacy of the industrialization era that started a couple of centuries ago. The approach meant leveraging lowest cost resources with an aim of maximizing benefits to the owners of the enterprise. It is apparent now that pursuing a growth model that brings prosperity to a few while leaving the majority out of the ambit of its benefits is only furthering the gap between the haves and have not. There is a need to change that for inclusive growth, and the ‘Anand experience’ provides an excellent model.Verghese Kurien, the father of the ‘white revolution’ in India, innovated the concept of social business in this country through the ‘Anand Model’, a vertically integrated three-tier self-generative system for cooperative dairy development. He successfully established a commodity like milk as an instrument for socio-economic development. The impact that Anand Model was able to make is very similar to the economic theory canvassed by economist Jeffrey Sachs three decades later.
http://www.worldlatestnews.com/business-news/anand-model-should-be-replicated-for-inclusive-growthKenya : Kibaki Eyes Policies To Spur Economic Growth.
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki said the government is formulating and implementing policies that will lead to the development of a stable, efficient, safe and accessible financial sector. The president said the government is working towards increasing access to financial services and products to all Kenyans, particularly the poor, low income households and micro and small scale enterprises. The President also urged banks to exploit technology to reach more Kenyans in a cost effective way. National Survey for 2009 indicates that the banking sector still serves only 22 percent of the bankable population. He cited mobile phone technology as an example of channels that banks could use to reach more Kenyans, saying the success of mobile money transfer services underscores the potential of mobile phone financial services.He said in providing small business enterprises with appropriate financial products and services, such banking institutions have been contributing in the delivery of the social benefits often associated with such businesses."Experience the world over has taught us that the micro- enterprises are key to sustainable economic development and in particular to the elimination of poverty," he said.He pointed out that micro-enterprises provide a path to economic self-reliance for owners and entrepreneurs while benefiting their local communities.
http://www.coastweek.com/kenxin260609-02.htmQatar's Human Development Report focuses on sustainable development
Report calls for balancing economic and social development and the protection of the environment
Qatar’s second National Human Development Report examines three critical and pressing environmental challenges facing the emirate, namely, water security; threats to the marine environment; and the effects of climate change.The Report which was conceived with the aim to support the achievement of the Qatar National Vision 2030, is the product of a fruitful collaboration between the General Secretariat for Development Planning (GSDP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Published under the title “Advancing Sustainable Development in Qatar,” The NHDR comes in five chapters; covering key dimensions of the interface between human development and environmental sustainability including the interplay of economic growth, social development and environmental management; sustainable access to water; management and conservation of the marine environment; and the impacts of climate change on human development.
http://content.undp.org/go/newsroom/2009/july/qatars-national-human-development-report-focuses-on-sustainable-development.en
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