"Without a doubt, the horizon that is looming is clearly productive in a process that, if maintained over time, will begin to recover the jobs lost in the last 5 years.
Mr. Gustavo Lajnis, when asked whether SMEs have turned to exports due to the greater competitiveness of Argentine products as a result of the devaluation, said: the post-devaluation scenario shows a clear profile of import substitution, which implies positioning products in the domestic market in sectors that have been closed in recent years due to the presence of imported products.
A clear example is the textile sector. In relation to the external market, there is an export drive due to improved relative prices, however, the results from a quantitative analysis will begin to be seen in approximately one year. Without a doubt, the horizon that is foreseen is clearly productive in a process that, if maintained over time, will begin to recover the jobs lost in the last 5 years.
As for how he sees the future of Argentine exports and imports, in relation to the current reality of SMEs, he stressed: the trade balance for 2002 will clearly be surplus with a strong downward trend in imports, which allows for the scenario described in the previous point.
Moving on to the work that the PEN is carrying out from this secretariat to promote exports, he described: The Foreign Trade area of the SEPyMEyDR has the following programs to support the internationalization process of SMEs:
1.- PROMOTION PROGRAM FOR EXPORT GROUPS
Mission: To support the formation, consolidation and development of groups of SMEs -formally or informally constituted as consortia- with the objective of starting export activities, recovering commercial positions in foreign markets or increasing and diversifying their placements in other countries.
Strategy: Each project must bring together at least five (5) SME companies, belonging to the same sector of activity or the same production chain. The coordination of the group's activities may be carried out by a professional proposed by the companies or by the SEPyMEyDR.
Currently, SEPyMEyDR is working with 40 groups involving more than 400 SMEs from sectors as diverse as auto parts, hardware, furniture, chinchilla producers, electrical products, construction, forestry, food, etc.
For more information: [email protected]
2.- FIRST EXPORT SUPPORT PROGRAM
Mission: To promote the generation and consolidation of an export culture in the SME environment, through a tailored training scheme and intensive technical support to place companies in a position to export successfully.
Strategy: The proposed strategy is aimed at providing specialized technical support for SME export takeoff, through a diagnosis + training + tutoring scheme, throughout the process of implementing a strategic export plan.
For more information: [email protected]
3.- INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR THE EXPORTER
Mission: To provide information to SME entrepreneurs, with the purpose of giving them knowledge for making decisions corresponding to the development of their project for insertion in foreign markets.
Strategy: The proposed system is intended to cover the information aspects related to the following fields: Statistics, Tariff and para-tariff barriers, Fairs and other international events, promotional instruments, commercial opportunities and sector studies.
For more information: [email protected]
4.- TRAINING CYCLE IN FOREIGN TRADE
Within the framework of the Federal Training Program of the SEPyMEyDR, the Foreign Trade area has designed a series of talks and seminars - with free attendance - on different topics related to export activity.
For more information: [email protected]
Regarding the current lack of financing for exports, which would largely prevent SMEs from carrying out operations abroad, and whether there are actions aimed at alleviating the lack of financing through government measures, Mr. Lajnis stated: The Secretariat, through its financing assistance department, is working on implementing lines aimed at projects that contemplate the Fonapyme domestic market. For further inquiries, please contact Fonapyme by email or at 4349-5341. In addition, it is working on implementing an Italian loan for the acquisition of Goods and Services for an amount of 75 million euros.
In order to determine whether MERCOSUR continues to be a priority and, if so, whether there are specific promotions, he highlighted: MERCOSUR continues to be a priority in the scheme of integration and promotion of trade in our country. In turn, the Foreign Ministry is working on the implementation of bilateral agreements with countries and economic blocs in order to enable the entry of our products into the international market.
In the meantime, when asked about the particular “Brazilian Service for Support of Micro and Small Enterprises in Rio Grande do Sul†(SEBRAE/RS) that in Brazil has generated great promotions and encouragement to companies and if in Argentina the possibility of creating a similar entity is being studied, he emphasized: The SEPyMEyDR recently organized a seminar together with the SEBRAE whose central theme was the creation of an organization with similar characteristics in Argentina, called IDEAR. This initiative has as its genesis the bill of Deputy Brown, conceived as an autonomous entity with public-private participation that will promote and implement actions tending to the creation, development and strengthening of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises of all economic sectors that develop their main activity in the Argentine territory.
Finally, and as a message to SMEs, he expressed that this scenario shows a future whose sustenance will be production as a driver of development and growth in the Argentine Republic.
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