UTSA International Trade Center hosts SBDC delegations from Colombia, Mexico
(Nov. 19, 2014) -- This week, the International Trade Center, a small business development center (SBDC) in the UTSA Institute for Economic Development is hosting an international delegation of high-level government officials and SBDC directors and advisors from Colombia and Mexico. Center administrators will allow the guests to observe first-hand SBDC operations.
SBDCs, established throughout the United States by the federal government in partnership with universities and colleges, assist entrepreneurs and business owners in establishing and growing their businesses through a free and confidential suite of advising services. Services include, but are not limited to, feasibility studies, business strategies, financial planning, marketing, production and professional networking. The centers support new and existing businesses.
The delegations from Colombia and Mexico will observe the operations of SBDCs and other centers at the UTSA Institute for Economic Development. The visitors will learn how the U.S. SBDC model works by viewing presentations on the business advising services, training programs, SBDC client and management presentations as well as other topics related to running a successful SBDC. The visiting delegates will also observe how the federal government creates the legal and policy framework, structures, funds and conducts oversight of the SBDC network.
The visit is part of the International Trade Center and Institute for Economic Development SBDCGlobal program that, with the support of the Department of State, has been helping countries to develop U.S.-modeled SBDC networks in the Americas since 2003.
"Mexico was the first country in which we began our work to expand the SBDC model beyond the U.S., and it has been an amazing testing ground for our program," said Julio Garcia de las Mestas, senior international business advisor and lead on the UTSA Mexico SBDC project. "Combining a visit from Mexico, a country with a long history with the SBDC model of business development, with a visit from Colombia, who came into the fold in the last couple of years, will allow both countries to gain from their diverse experiences."
Since UTSA began working with Mexico to adapt the SBDC model, Mexican institutions of higher education have created 118 centers, formed the Mexican Association of SBDCs (AMCDPE), and have had more than 1,300 SBDC counselors and directors trained through continued engagement with UTSA. The AMCDPE has hit a milestone this year of attaining federal funding through the Mexican Small Business Agency (INADEM) in the form of a contract to create five new pilot centers. Delegates from the AMCDPE also will participate in the visit.
UTSA began working with Colombia in 2013 and has since completed trainings in four different cities resulting in two currently operating SBDCs and upward of 14 in the development phase. Future trainings for Colombia are being planned.
The International Trade Center at UTSA is one of the largest and most successful trade assistance organizations in Texas. It helps companies become globally competitive through technical trade advising, customized market research and innovative training programs. The center is a specialty SBDC program in the South-West Texas Border SBDC Network. Follow them on Twitter (@TexasTrade) and like them on Facebook (Facebook.com/texastrade).
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For more information on the project, visit the UTSA SBDCGlobal website.
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