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

1. Fact finding in Serbia
2. TB for Plato Coordinators in Flanders
3. Selection of Mentor companies in Serbia
4. TB for Mentor companies in Flanders
5. Selection of SMEs in Serbia
6. Creation of the Plato groups in Serbia
7. TB for SMEs in Serbia
8. Monthly sessions in Serbia
9. 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
VL VCC Ser
1. Preparation and planning 0,00 1.000,00 300,00
2. Staff costs 37.630,44 25.086,96 24.490,00
3. Operational Costs 13.100,00 0,00 2.400,00
4. Overhead Costs 7.609,57 3.763,04 2.689,00
5. Investment Costs 0,00 0,00 0,00
6. Travel and Accommodation Costs 52.860,00 0,00 0,00
7. Subcontracting Costs 13.800,00 0,00 0,00
TOTAL 125.000,00 29.850,00 29.879,00
67,67 16,16 16,17
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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