PLATO SRBIJA

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PLATO SRBIJA

• Serbian Chamber of Commerce February,
  2009

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Overview Presentation

• Voka-Chamber of Commerce of East-Flanders
• The PLATO concept
• PLATO SRBIJA
• Timing and Milestones
• Finances
• Agreements on project management

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Voka-Chamber of Commerce of East-Flanders
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Voka, the Flemish network of companies
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Voka- East Flanders Chamber of Commerce

• Voka Flanders
• 17500 companies
• Largest Belgian employers organisation
• Voka - East Flanders Chamber of Commerce
• 3000 members ( Volvo, Honda, Arcelor Mittal )
• 50 employees in 4 offices
• Our structure 6 competence centres to support
  our companies
• Services
• - Lobbying
• Communication
• Networking
• Training Education
• International Entrepreneurship

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Life Long Learning!
Starting
Growing
Internationalising
Start
Mentorshipprojects!
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The Plato Concept
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Plato history

• 1990 Plato starts at Voka East Flanders Chamber
  of Commerce
• Since 1990
• 1700 SMEs have joined the Plato Project in the
  Province of East Flanders. ( 7500 in Flanders )
• 300 managers of 70 multinational companies
  participated
• Since 2000 Plato International
• Plato networks in Ireland, Denmark, Finland,
  Sweden, Hungary, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia,
  Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Serbia and South Africa

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Why do companies participate in learning networks?
The entrepreneur has a NEED for information and
contact with colleagues
But the entrepreneur has a LACK OF TIME AND MEANS
For expensive and time-consuming trainings
SME owners are responsible for EVERYTHING in
their company Finances management, HR,
purchasing,, marketing,
The project deals with BOTTLENECKS and practical
questions
PLATO
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Aim of PLATO

• Professionalization of SME owners by practice
• Establishment of learning networks of SME owners
• Knowledge transfer via the guidance of mentors,
  managers of major companies

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How? Mentorship project!
MC
MC
MC
MC
MC
MC
15 SME group
15 SME group
15 SME group
15 SME group
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Plato starts from the practice

• Plato entrepreneurs discuss and share their
  everyday problems
• Accountancy, Sales, HRM, Subsidies, Taxes,
  Communication, Export,
• In order to increase their profit, turnover and
  growth rate
• SME owners have other priorities problems
  customized program adapted to local SME needs
• Entrepreneurs gain new knowledge from their
  mentors and from outside experts and from their
  colleagues.

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Plato groups are guided by mentors

• Mentors are managers from large companies
• Steer the group meetings
• Networking with other mentors and mentor
  companies
• Individual assistance to the participating SME
• Return
• skill training by managing a PLATO Group
• Achieve entrepreneurship

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PLATO is sustainable

• Plato gives SME owners the skills necessary in
  order to growth
• Plato gives chances to women entrepreneurs
  starters
• Plato is affordable practical
• Co-operation of Chambers of Commerce with
  stakeholders governmental organisations, NGOs,
  universities, development organisations, training
  centres,
• Plato access to national and international
  networks of SMEs and multinationals/mentor
  companies

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Why does a SME owner participate?

• Develop a good business plan for his/her company
• Gain knowledge confidence about all business
  aspects
• Learn techniques and methods to optimise company
  practices
• Participate in networking (advice, transfer of
  know-how, contacts, )
• Broaden their business horizon
• The will to bring their company to a higher level
• Create a local, regional, national and
  International network

Improve the company results!
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Key players Mentorshipproject
Mentors
entrepreneurs
Chamber of Commerce
Other socio-economic partners
Mentorcompanies
S(M)MEs
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To PLATO or not to PLATO!

• The impact of Plato on the SMEs

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Impact of PLATO on SME owners.

• Studies by Deloitte, University of Antwerp,
  Vlerick Business School
• Compared to their peers, Plato companies performe
  above average on all levels
• PLATO companies are more professionally managed
  related to liquidity, cash-flow and rentability.
• PLATO companies have a business strategy. SME
  owners know how to grow feel confident in their
  business plans

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PLATO Srbija

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10 steps to implement Plato

• Fact finding in Serbia
• TB for Plato Coordinators in Flanders
• Selection of Mentor companies in Serbia
• TB for Mentor companies in Flanders
• Selection of SMEs in Serbia
• Creation of the Plato groups in Serbia
• TB for SMEs in Serbia
• Monthly sessions in Serbia
• Closure happening in Serbia

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Proposed project timing

• Factfinding mission February 2009
• Coordinator visit 24-27/03/2009
• Mentor recruitment March-June 2009
• Mentor Coordinator teambuilding 2-5/6/2009
• SME recruitment April- September 2009
• SME teambuilding October 2009
• Start of the project November 2009

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Beyond Plato

• Economic missions to Serbia Flanders
• Economic seminars on trade partner countries
• Links with education centers
• Plato as a tool to stimulate SME development in
  other regions in Serbia
• Contacts with Serbian Belgian government.

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PLATO Financial - overview
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QA

• Question time
• Financial details
• General Plato concept
• Plato Srbija implementation
• Project management agreements
• Coordinators
• Reporting
• -gt Protocol

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Thank you for your attention

• Contact
• Wim Keygnaert Stefan Derluyn
• Project Coordinator Manager
  International Dept
• wim.keygnaert_at_voka.be stefan.derluyn_at_voka.be32-
  9-2661451 32-9-2661446