Sponsored by Organized by The New Zealand Aid AgencyThe Mekong Institute Khon Kaen in Thailand SME Cluster Development 14 – 25 May 2012 Compiled by Dr. Ed Canela

Session 6: Principles of Export Consortia What is an export consortium? Overview to different types of export consortia Support systems for export consortia Benefits of export consortia?

SME Barriers to Exports

What is it? An export consortium is a voluntary alliance of SMEs with the objective of promoting the goods, services (AND KNOWLEDGE) of its members abroad and facilitating the export of these products through joint actions. Members realize that cooperation must prevail over competition to access key EXPORT markets and the latest technology. IT IS TEMPORARY! It can be seen as a formal medium- to long- term strategic cooperation between SMEs that acts as a service provider specialized in facilitating access to foreign markets. Most consortia are non-profit entities.

Types of Export Consortia

Typical Needs of an Exporting SME As a SME wanting to export? What do you do? – Identification of market? – Product characteristics/standards? – Identification of client? – Evaluation of costs to exports? – Permits, Certificates quality and/or phytosanitary? – Packaging? – Consolidation? Scale to small? – Bill of landing or lading? – Cold chain? – Trucking service? – Exit point? – Insurance? – Custom agent? – Certificate of origin? – Trade finance? Multimodal or multitasking operator? As a policy maker should I assist? In what and how should I develop an export program/platform?