SMExchange « A program for capacity building of intermediary organizations in the South of the Mediterranean » MENA/EURVP December

The SMExchange is a capacity building program linking intermediary organizations (IO), chambers of commerce, business or trade associations, investment promotion agencies, in developed and developing countries to support SMEs through transfer of knowledge and experience. Strengthening SMEs in the South to achieve growth is a priority and implies the strengthening of their intermediary organizations(IO). The SMExchange ultimate goal is to foster trade and investment between SMEs in the North and South.

IOs SME Sharing of information and best practices to support SMEs Ownership and empowerment of IOs in the South A customer driven approach Northern SMEs Southern SMEs Chambers of commerce Business Associations Trade organizations Investment promotion agencies

The SMExchange has three pillars A Website SMExchange Liaison Officers (SMELOs) World Bank Group Road Shows 1 2 3

It is a market place for information sharing and capacity building between intermediary organizations from North and South of the Mediterranean The SMExchange Website: 1 Launched on September 2002, it is now available in Arabic, English and French

A market place for information sharing and capacity building to facilitate SMEs’ access to: ITC Financing An improved institutional framework International markets Training

SMExchange Liaison Officers 2  Are seconded from European IOs, for a 3 year period, to IOs in the South,  Operate as networks engineers linking the South to the North through better communication, information sharing and capacity building.  Mobilize all available financings for SME development  The first SMELO will be seconded in Morocco by the Chamber of Commerce of Marseille in January 2003

SMExchange desk IOs from the South IOs from the North Local counterpart Liaison officer on secondment

World Bank Group road shows are organized to get the World Bank, IFC and MIGA closer to the companies in developing countries through conferences and seminars organized in partnership with intermediary organizations, explaining how to better use WBG private sector services. World Bank Group Road Shows 3 The next roadshow, « Building Partnerships to Promote Trade and Investment », will take place in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Iran mid-December

PILOT PROJECT: THE MENA REGION

 The SMExchange started in Septembre 2000 at the initiative of a consortium of European IOs and with a grant from the Development Market Place  The project is supported since September 2001 by the MNSIF and EURVP departments of the World Bank  The project is presently being implemented in Morocco first  It will be extended to Algeria, Tunisia, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Iran A project facilitated by the World Bank

1st agreement signed on September 11, 2002 between the Chamber of Commerce of Marseille and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Morocco. A first WBG roadshow was organized in Maghreb (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) late January.The upcoming one will include Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Iran, mid-december From North Africa to Middle East and to the rest of the world The SMExchange website is now live and could trigger the launch of an SME thematic group within the Development Gateway.

THANK YOU !