UTSA International Trade Center staff attend launch of first SBDC in Dominican Republic
Share this Story(Feb. 24, 2015) -Two International Trade Center staff members from the UTSA Institute of Economic Development recently traveled to the Dominican Republic to perform a small business development center (SBDC) training and attend a public ceremony for the launch of the first SBDC in the country.
UTSA International Trade Center Director Cliff Paredes and Global SBDC Instructional Coordinator Minerva Garcia completed the two-day training for the staff of the six SBDC pilot centers that will open in Feb. and March. The team visited three of the pilot centers, toured the facilities and discussed operational plans with their staff.
SBDCs, established throughout the United States by the federal government in partnership with state governments and 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 strategy, financial planning, marketing, production and professional networking. The centers support new and existing businesses.
The launch of the SBDC is the result of training that UTSA has provided to transfer the SBDC model methodology and teach professionals how to manage and operate economic impact-producing SBDCs. The ultimate goal of this work is to connect and promote trade between small businesses with the rest of the Americas and the Caribbean. This training is part of the International Trade Center and Institute for Economic Development's SBDCGlobal program that since 2003, with the support of the U.S. government has been helping countries develop U.S.-modeled SBDC networks in the Americas.
UTSA staff attended the launch of Centro PYMES Instituto Superior de Agricultura (ISA), a new center in Santiago de los Caballeros. Dominican officials including Ignacio Mendez Fernández, Viceminister for Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Aura Toribio, Governor of Santiago and Benito A. Ferreiras, President of ISA attended the ceremony.
“These business development professionals in the Dominican Republic are doing what it takes to launch SBDCs that will produce economic impact and improve the local economies,” said Paredes. “Between now and March 10, they are launching six centers at different universities across the country that will be in a great position to help businesses.”
The next step for the Dominican Republic will be to set up a formal national network of SBDCs that successfully operate, assist clients and produce results.
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).
For more information, visit SBDCGlobal.com
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