UNIDO holds forum for business enterprise development

By Alex Romeo R. Fernandez

Thursday 31st of May 2012

DAGUPAN CITY, May 31 (PIA) -- The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) on Monday led a forum at the University of Luzon here for developing and tapping possible local small and medium enterprise (SME) ventures.

Discussed during the forum was the proposed Entrepreneurship Development Center (EDC), which will be established in the university.

The UNIDO will help create the center through the Arab Regional Center for Entrepreneurship and Investment Training (ARCEIT) based on the Bahrain-Arab Model for Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion (EDIP), which has already been adopted in 18 countries around the world.

Resource Speaker Dr. Ilene Valian Agana, business counselor for UNIDO-ARCEIT based in Bahrain, said UNIDO provides assistance to businesses except for financial ones.

Assistance will include technology tie-ups and transfer, drafting business ideas, business partnership, project implementation, and licensing and legal documentation.

ARCEIT will develop a team at the university to manage and coordinate the implementation of EDIP within the proposed center, which would yield its services to potential entrepreneurs in Bahrain.

The EDC, composed of university professionals, students and community members, will provide technical, operational, managerial and financial assistance to SMEs in the city.

Agana, an alumna of the university, said even small businesses, including ambulant vendors can be assisted through this project.

The forum was organized by the UL Center for Integrated Extension Services headed by Dr. Carmelo John Vidal. (ANL/ARRF-PIA 1 Pangasinan)