1. Presentation of Common Operational Mechanism E-zavod, Ptuj, Slovenia Darko Ferčej

2. Region – Lower Podravje 1 town municipality 15 small municipalities Cca 63.000 inhabitants 3,1 % of Slovenian population

3. Lower Podravje – Demography & Unemployment Peak 1986 70.000 inh 2007: 63.000 inh Decreasing trend of 350 inh/year 0-14 years: 14% 14-65 years: 71% 65+ years: 15% Unemployment: 2008: 3.100 2009: 5.000 Average waiting for employment 1 year 2 months Unemployed: 48% women 52% men 36% less employment needs as in 2008

4. Economy 3 big companies: Poultry production, aluminum production & sunglasses production Low number of high technology companies Low innovativeness rate of companies Low profitability and added value Few investments – decreasing Not enough connections between companies No risk capital Low export rate Low interest for entrepreneurship

5. Development problems High unemployment (long term unemployment) Low educational level Slow creation of new employments Population getting old Brain drain to Maribor and Ljubljana Low frequency of cultural events Culture of wine growing – drinking problems Not enough development funds in the region

6. Development opportunities Support to innovative (non-agricultural) companies Specialization & flexibility Tourism (Castle, spa center, active vacation) Culinary & wine Renewable energy production

7. Common Operational Mechanism Basic idea and main parts are similar as from Greek (original) version of document Adopted in Oct. – Dec. 2009 (SRC Bistra) Tested in Jan-March 2010 (RDA Sinergija) 2 types of support: –Individual accompanying of 15-18 companies –Establishment of better economic environment for all enterprises in lower Podravje region

8. COM – Individual support Pool of different support services: –Business idea support and evaluation –Start up support (establishment of enterprises, enterprise contract, administration, registration…) –Preparation of business or investment plan –Marketing plan –Searching for enterprise premises –Support to establishment of e-business

9. COM – Individual support Initial promotional package (logo, graphic design, stamp, letterhead, e-letter…) Advanced promotional package: web site Individualized business support (administrative-technical support, human resources search, subsidies…) Funds support search & documentation Support for internationalization

10. COM – Creating better business climate Business group of Lower Podravje region –Periodical meetings –Business to Business partnership search –Common tendering of small business –Making business inside region –Stronger position towards other regions –New business ideas –Mentoring of new ideas – acting as business incubator

11. Following steps: selection of enterprises CRITERIA INDICATORS: IDENTIFICATION OF BUSINESS IDEA PRESENTATION OF ENTREPRENEUR Identification of business idea WHY? To answer the question what kind of support services/sources are needed to implement the business idea or to start up a company in the region. Required information for identification of business idea: Description of potential product/service  solution to a existing problem Applicability of a product/service (identification of use and of purpose) Identification of competitive advantages of a product/service

12. Selection of enterprises Identification of sources needed for implementation of idea Identification of target customers Identification of most important market competitors 2. Presentation of a Entrepreneur WHY? To assess existing knowledge and experience. Enclosure of professional CV Entrepreneur’s competences and skills which can be identified as advantage competences on the target market Presentation of entrepreneur’s business vision

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