NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESS

The National Association of Small and Medium-Size Business (NASMB) was established in Sofia on 17.06.2000 as an NGO under the Persons and Family Act and pre-registered on 04.04.2002 in compliance with the NGO Act. The association started its activities immediately after its establishment. NASMB mission is to facilitate, support and promote the establishment of a favorable business environment for small and medium companies’ development and to raise their competitiveness. With its mission, aims, goals and structure the Association is similar to small and medium business associations in the West European countries and in North America. The organization successfully cooperates with the Agency for Encouraging of Small and Medium Enterprises, the Centre for Economic Development, the Employers’ Union, and the Association for Industrial Capital, the Centre for Development of Entrepreneurship, the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other NGOs. The Association also provides activities like: training and consulting of SMEs; technological development and certification; access to finance for entrepreneurs; statements and drafts of proposals for improvement of legislation on SMEs; projects implementation and promotion of national networking and cooperation with foreign partners in various fields of interests.
Nowadays NASMB is implementing several projects, main of which are:
1. “RIMADIMA” INTERREG III B CADSES PROJECT.
2. “REVITA” INTERREG III B CADSES PROJECT
3. “TELMI” INTERREG III B CADSES
4. “EUCERTICON” PROJECT – LEONARDO DA VINCI SECOND PHHASE : 2000-2006
5. “Research of Public Private Partnership in building Ski Lifts and Trucks to “Ostri Vruh – regional Center for Sport and Tourism “Tzigov Chark”, Municipality of “Batak”

Contact information: www.nasmb-bg.org

LALELİ INDUSTRİALİSTS AND BUSİNESSMEN ASSOCIATION

The main purpose of LASIAD is to bring all Laleli manufacturers and tradesmen under a same roof to help them to increase the efficiency and provide effectiveness in their trades, mainly with the Russian Federation and the Eastern European countries. LASIAD has been operating since its foundation in order to make Laleli region as an international fashion and a big shopping center and to help to the region in the presentation studies. Moreover it realizes some studies in order to improve tourism and trade in Eminonu region. It acts in cooperation with other associations in order to prepare these activities. In the realization of the purposes of the Association, inseparable integrity of the country, the preservation of National dominancy and Republic, to keep Ataturk revolutions alive and to perform activities without separating from the democratic principles are he corner stones.

Contact information: http://www.lasiad.org.tr/tr/main.html

CHAMBER OF KAVALA

The Chamber of Kavala is a public law, legal entity that was originally founded in 1918. It has over 11.000 members including small and medium sized manufacturing industries, commercial enterprises, handicrafts companies, large industries, as well as professionals.

The Chamber of Kavala is the organization one goes to in order to register a new company. However, beyond the registration of firms and other administrative procedures, the Chamber of Kavala has developed into an authentic support centre for private initiative. This is accomplished mainly by providing information and advice on issues and problems faced by businesspersons.

The Chamber is an important support mechanism for trade, industry and the professions in its area and oftentimes it uses its influence in the government decision-making process on matters relevant to the business world. In most cases this influence is directed towards local or regional authorities, but sometimes even the national authorities are contacted. Also, the Chamber often acts on its own initiative in order to promote industry and commerce in the area.

Yet another important function assumed by the Chamber, and one of particular relevance to the business world, is its consultative and information services provided to small and medium sized enterprises. Examples of this are the supply of information on subsidies, grants, development laws, EU legislation, and even information on export markets or possible new sources of supply for raw materials. Also, information is supplied on company law in other countries and on international trade rules and regulations.

Contact information: http://www.chamberofkavala.gr/

SME UNION SLOVENIA

The SME UNION SLOVENIA supports and fosters cooperation with all relevant institutions, the activities of which include dealing with issues and problems concerning the development of SMEs in Slovenia, as well as other non-governmental organisations and individuals that support the European integration processes, peace-keeping efforts and the development of democratic values in their private or public life.
The main programme priorities of the SME UNION SLOVENIA are as follows: to cooperate with the state in activities, aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship and creating an SME friendly environment; to promote the value of knowledge, development and innovation in the business sector; to provide professional help and expert advice in order to support the development of SMEs; to promote entrepreneurship and to organise different forms of educational activities for entrepreneurs. The activities of the SME UNION comprise the provision of services, counselling and other forms of support, i.e.: support services required by its members to overcome administrative and other barriers or acquire a licence from the national authorities; services to provide its members with funding opportunities from European structural funds and other financial mechanisms of the European Union; project management support; legal counselling and advice in international trade and business agreements; tax counselling; educational activities; planning and organisation of conferences, workshops and/or other events; services of the protocol for the organisation of receptions, sessions, and other forms of meetings at the highest level; to promote regional projects and to ensure their inclusion in multilateral projects

Contact information: www.sme-union.si

SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTREPRENEURS UNION – BULGARIA

Union of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises – Bulgaria is a non-profit, non-governmental and non-political association for pursuing activities for public profit, registered in the city of Sofia, Bulgaria in 2007. The Association has set itself the task of contributing to the democratisation and stabilisation of the political, social and economic development in Southeast Europe. In this connection, the Association will focus its activities on: supporting and promoting small and medium-sized businesses, craftsmen and free-lancers, as well as rendering support as regards their relations with the European Union institutions; creating favourable economic environment for small and medium-sized enterprises’ development and raising their competitiveness; work to reduce red tape for economic development; carrying out of joint undertakings and mutual assistance; preparation, arrangement and carrying out of workshops, conferences and seminars; publicity, related to the achievement of the Association’s objectives; development of programs, projects, policies, strategies and bills, related to the achievement of the Association’s objectives; as well as any other activities or services not prohibited by Bulgarian or European legislation, related to the achievement of the Association’s objectives. The main objectives of the Association are to: create favourable economic environment for small and medium-sized enterprises’ development; improve social conditions and preserve environment through market mechanisms; enhance the opportunities for entrepreneurship; work for reducing red tape for economic development and protection of competition; support economic cooperation between the legal entities from the Republic of Bulgaria with EU Member States and institutions, as well as with third countries; arrange, carry out and participate in joint undertakings with similar organizations; arrange, carry out and participate in events – symposia, conferences, seminars, conventions, delegations, official meetings, etc.; organize and implement educational and training programs – courses, lectures, discussions and workshops; support projects, related to the training and qualification of staff; develop , coordinate, manage and monitor projects and programs financed under EU programs.
Its initiatives:
1. Young Entrepreneurs in South-East Europe: Changes & Challenges for the New Generation
2. Sustainable Tourism in Europe: Chances & Challenges for SME’s
3. South East European Business Network - SEE Net

Contact information: www.smeunion-bg.org

NATIONAL UNION OF ROMANIAN EMPLOYERS, ROMANIA

The National Union of Romanian Employers is a non-governmental completely private organization. It was founded on 1991 with the purpose of protecting the interests of small and medium-sized business in the services, trade or production area.
UNPR organization chart includes 6 departments covering the political and economical Romanian reality: Parliament, Government and Trade Unions Relations Department; Programs Development and Implementation Department; Economic Strategies and Policies Department; Business and Banking Relations Department; Public Relations Department; Foreign Relations Department
Its objectives are: Protecting and encouraging the legitimate interests of its adherent members;
Proposing the administrative measures necessary for the maintenance and development of small and medium-sized companies and solving the economic and societal problems, by equally taking into consideration the employers' and the employees' interests.
Its activities: Developing programs with internal and foreign partners; Representing our members interests at governmental level; Promoting our members on domestic and international media; Assistance in labor barging with trade unions; Advocacy subject to legal issues of our members activities; Lobby at international level; Providing update information to all the members;
Creating business interface

Contact information: www.unpr.ro

YALOVA CHAMBERS OF TRADESMEN AND CRAFTSMEN UNION (YESOB)

YESOB was founded on 16.08.1995 ,according to Tradesmensman ve Sanatkarlar Meslek Kurulusları
law no.5362 ,and started its activities. There are 17 professional chambers and 17.000 members of Yalova Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen Union (YESOB)

YESOB’s main activities,
- To meet the basic needs of the craftsmen and artisans and the people working near them,
- To ease their occupational activities,
- To help them to improve in accordance with the basic benefits of the occupation and to obtain their training
- To keep honesty and trust in the relations of the workers ( both with each other and the public)
- To protect occupational discipline and morality

Contact information: www.yesob.org.tr

CHAMBER OF CRAFT (HWK TRIER)

Gewion Ltd. – Chamber of Industry and Commerce / Chamber of Crafts corporation for Europe oriented Competetiveness and Innovation Ltd. 50% Trier Chamber of Industry and Commerce
50% Trier Chamber of Crafts (in Germany, Chambers are public corporations).

GEWION mbH is a body governed by public law

The Chamber of Craft (HwK Trier) as a non governmental organisation is counselling approximately 6000 SMEs on specific craft-sector related matters. One fifth of the enterprises counselled are construction related SMEs. The HwK Trier received as first chamber in Germany the DIN EN ISO 9001 certification and offers a wide range of activities in favour of SMEs, including vocational training and workshops in the field of information and communication technologies.

Euro Info Centre (EIC) Trier, established 1989 as one of the first in Germany and operating until 31.12.2007. GEWION mbH is the host organisation of the regional relay of the new EU „Enterprise Europe Network“ since 01.01.2008.

SME-support network of Directorate General „Enterprise and Industry“: 100 consortia in Europe; EE Trier/GEWION: leader of a consortium of 3 partners in two federal states with an advisory committee of 10 regional Chambers and 3 federal Ministries)

Contact information: www.hwk-trier.de