Ruedas de Negocios - exchange markets for initiating business contacts for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)

Experience from Central America

Ruedas de Negocios are an instrument for promoting local and regional economic development through the exchange of information and the initiation of business contacts between and with entrepreneurs. Numerous Ruedas de Negocios have already been held in various countries in Central America with the aim of establishing and strengthening national and/or regional links between and with entrepreneurs and, by doing so, improving the competitiveness of the various business entities.

With this in mind, MSMEs and the respective promoting institutions are invited to take part in a two-day supply-and-demand exchange. In the run-up to a Rueda de Negocios, each participant identifies the enterprises and institutions with which they propose to exchange information, enter into negotiations or do business, on the basis of a pre-prepared list of participants.

Proper preparation of the participants is part of the methodology. Courses in presentation and negotiation techniques are available, for example. In addition, a Rueda can be supplemented by conferences and trade fairs.
Software specially developed for Ruedas de Negocios optimises each participant's individual "timetable" to enable "match-making" to be as efficient as possible. The software is also used to develop the supply-and-demand catalogue, and for evaluation and systematisation.
Evaluation of experience to date has revealed a particularly high level of satisfaction: with almost 100% of the participants saying they were satisfied, business was initiated or concluded at more than 70% of the meetings (experience in Honduras, 1999; if anything, this figure was even higher at subsequent Ruedas). Ruedas are estimated to be 80% self-financing.

At present, economic development and employment promotion projects from Central America are developing a Rueda Centroamericana which will establish links between entrepreneurs and institutions in four countries and will offer Rueda meetings in the participating countries about every 4 months. An additional component, the virtual Rueda, enables negotiations to take place at any time, regardless of distance. Virtual Ruedas include a supply-and-demand catalogue and enables entrepreneurs to take part in negotiations in chat rooms or by e-mail. This instrument will eventually become a permanent portal for initiating new business. Before the Ruedas are held the participants are invited to attend training courses in using the Internet for business purposes.

Contact:

Jürgen Klenk
PROMYPE / GTZ
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
+504 - 221 44 69
jk@promype.hn

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