On 31st March 2009 a group of entrepreneurs from Austria, France, Hungary, Israel, Italy and Malaysia participated in a meeting held in the Republic of San Marino under the auspices of C.E.S.A. Foundation and their President Dr. Gian Franco Terenzi in order to launch the foundation of a new association dedicated to Micro- Small- and Medium Enterprises (SME’s).

The Secretary of State for Labour and Co-operation, Mr. Marcucci and the Secretary of State for Industry and Handicraft, Mr. Arzilli, of the Republic of San Marino, joined the meeting and gave the Government support to the initiative underlining the importance of the SME’s for the economy.

One of the priorities of the new World Union of SME’s will be to provide widespread information and foster awareness among the different national institutions of the countries belonging to the WORLD UNION as regards the true needs of small enterprises which represent the basis of the economic fabric of all societies. The new Association shall develop strategies able to back the growth of this major economic sector and identify annual activities to be realised, to facilitate relations to the national associations and UN Organizatios, e.g. UNIDO, EU, UNESCO, ILO etc. and create moments of encounter that represent chances and opportunities of integration between the actors from different countries and geographic areas.

„I am convinced that we can restrict the economic and social consequences of the global financial and economic crisis, and create the foundations for a better future, if we make use of the strong points and the best energies at our disposal”, said Dr. Terenzi. Growth prospects do already exist. This was made evident in a preparatory meeting in Vienna of 26 – 28 November, 2008 where the idea was aired of perfecting and re-thinking future strategies and developing methods for making a new WORLD UNION for Smell’s the number one SME representative Association in the word and at the UN Organisations, e.g.UNIDO, UNESCO, ILO and others.

Dr. Terenzi also informed the participants of the SME meeting that he contacted the Social Fund for Development, an institute based in Egypt providing development backing to small and medium Egyptian Enterprises but which also represents 12 Arab Countries. The Fund promised it’s full support and participation in the context of the SME UNION’s future projects.

The final communiqué of the SME’s Meeting concluded with the approval of the Government of San Marino to host the „World Conference on the foundation of a WORLD UNION for SME’s", scheduled for 1st October 2009 in San Marino. SMEs- supporting Governmental and NGO institutions and organisations, SMEs bankers, micro-financing Institutions and experts will be invited to participate and to associate with the World Union. The following SMEs associations are members of the World SME Conference Committee:

- C.E.S.A. Foundation. President: Dr. Gian Franco Terenzi (Chairman of the Conference;
- Israel Small and Medium Enterprise Authority, represented by their President, Mr.Gideon Sagee;
- China International Co-operation & Promotion Council for Small and Medium Enterprises. President: Dr. Charlie Chan;
- The SME Representative at UNESCO in Paris, Mr. Robert Holtz
- The WASME Permanent Representative for Malaysia, Dr. Tajudin;
- EIED European Institute for Economic Development, represented by Mr. Agoston Loerincz, Hungarian Entrepreneur.

Dr. Norbert W. Knoll-Dornhoff, Austrian Citizen, has been appointed General Secretary of the Committee and (ad interim) of the new Association. He served many years as head of the Environment and Energy Department of the Austrian Federal Chamber of Commerce (WKO) and Secy.-General of the Austrian Federal Chamber of Architects and Engineers. He was from 1984 to 1991 Permanent Observer of SACEP (South Asian Co-operative Environment Programme) at UNIDO in Vienna. For more information about the planned World SME Conference on 1st October 2009 in San Marino please contact:

- Conference Call Centre: +361-315 10 59
- Email: eurowifí@t-online.hu

EIED European Institute for Economic Development based in Vienna, Austria and Budapest, Hungary with Representative Offices in Geneva, Iceland, Cairo, Larnaka (Cyprus) and Praha is a consulting and business development organisation that helps businesses successfully find markets and investments, assists Member Companies in financing their feasible projects and select partners and representatives, establish joint ventures and strategic alliances, and set up operations in Austria, in the new countries of the European Union and Middle East countries.

EIED European Institute for Economic Development
Garas utca 22, H-1026 Budapest, Hungary
Tel.: +361-315 10 59
mailto: eurowif@t-online.de
web: www.eied.at.tt

This release was published on openPR.