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GO4EXPORT - Interactive development
Published on 21 November 2018
Netherlands
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
The province of Overijssel consists of three sub regions and within these regions many organisations exist that support businesses within a variety of sectors. All these organisations have programs for supporting internationalisation (trade promotion) among SME's. Many of the instruments these organisations use to support there constituents are very similar. Furthermore, the national government also offers several instruments to SME's that want to internationalize. For SME's the many supporting instruments are confusing and do not contribute to their goals and challenges.
The province of Overijssel took the initiative of bringing these parties together and in many sessions explore the needs of SME's regarding internationalisation. This resulted in an projectplan with 2 action lines: Inform and facilitate. In each of these actions lines several activities are excecuted by the partners of GO4EXPORT such as information session, interactive in-depth workshops on specific trade issues, trade missions, individual support of SME's, Trade traineeships in collaboration with education, profiling of HTSM and agro-food sector in Germany etc.
All the partnerorgansations work together under the program GO4EXPORT and this allows for their constituents to have a much broader activitybase than previously. The partnerorganisations have a much clearer view of the possibilities for their constituents and work more in cooperation with each other when organizing activities.
The province of Overijssel took the initiative of bringing these parties together and in many sessions explore the needs of SME's regarding internationalisation. This resulted in an projectplan with 2 action lines: Inform and facilitate. In each of these actions lines several activities are excecuted by the partners of GO4EXPORT such as information session, interactive in-depth workshops on specific trade issues, trade missions, individual support of SME's, Trade traineeships in collaboration with education, profiling of HTSM and agro-food sector in Germany etc.
All the partnerorgansations work together under the program GO4EXPORT and this allows for their constituents to have a much broader activitybase than previously. The partnerorganisations have a much clearer view of the possibilities for their constituents and work more in cooperation with each other when organizing activities.
Resources needed
The process of bringing all these organisations together requires a lot of time. It is recommended to hire external expertise to facilitate this process.
Furthermore, when making a program you also need resources for the execution of this program. Overijssel invested 2.3 million euros.
Furthermore, when making a program you also need resources for the execution of this program. Overijssel invested 2.3 million euros.
Evidence of success
In total over 1000 SME's participated in GO4EXPORT activities. Our goal was 800 SME's. Overall, the program is valued with a 7,8 out of 10 by participating SME's. Around 60% of SME's state that their revenue or volume from international activities has risen during the time of participating in GO4EXPORT. We also researched the effect on employment, 21% of SME's indicated a rise in employment due to increased revenue or volume from international trade.
Potential for learning or transfer
The learning component of this practice can be found in the interactive approach that we took with all the private partners that are occupied with internationalisation among SME's. The government took the role of facilitator and accelerator and was seen as one of the partners in the process, not the policy maker or decision maker. Moreover, the cross connections with national and local partners was an important factor of success.
Perhaps the most important factor of success was that we were able to identify the needs of the SME's regarding internationalisation and create an activity program that fits their needs.
Perhaps the most important factor of success was that we were able to identify the needs of the SME's regarding internationalisation and create an activity program that fits their needs.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Province of Overijssel
Netherlands
Overijssel
Contact
Policy Developer