Key Questions

Key questions

Who is IBF?
International Business Facilitators (IBF) is a consortium of business facilitation specialists that work with international agencies, governments, industry groups, large corporations and small and medium enterprises on entrepreneurship development, business linkages, cross-border trade and investment. IBF is based in Switzerland and India and represented in several countries. Most of our professionals have been in positions of leadership in banking, trade, investment management, inter-governmental negotiation and diplomacy.

What is UNCTAD-Empretec?
UNCTAD-Empretec is a United Nations programme established by the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to promote the creation of sustainable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Empretec works with entrepreneurs to build innovative and internationally competitive SMEs. The demand-driven programme is implemented through Empretec’s National Centres, which are currently in operation in 33 countries. Since its formation in 1988, Empretechas successfully trained over 210,000 entrepreneurs, helping to found or expand businesses, creating thousands of jobs in the process using UNCTAD’s best principles and methodologies.

How is IBF connected with UNCTAD-Empretec?
IBF is mandated by UNCTAD to promote, install and develop Empretec in India. IBF’s recommended model for product development and distribution of the programme has been approved by UNCTAD and features in an agreement between the two organizations. IBF is working closely with the central and state governments, chambers of commerce and industry, public and private entities to implement the programme in India. For each of the interested entities, not-for-profit Chapters are being established by IBF to distribute Empretec’s principles and methodology for the development and encouragement of i) business and social entrepreneurship and ii) domestic and cross-border business linkages.

How is IBF installing Empretec in India?
IBF has an agreement with UNCTAD to promote, install and develop Empretec in India. IBF’s recommended model for product development and distribution for Empretec in India has been approved by UNCTAD.

Salient features of the roll-out are as follows:

Consultative Committee: an institutional support structure for successful development of the programme in India
To comprise key government (state and centre) functionaries
Implementation Partners (such as the State Bank of India and several infrastructure development corporations) for whom dedicated Empretec Chapters are being set up
Chapters are dedicated Empretec and UNCTAD Business Linkage-specific joint ventures between the hosting entity, IBF, and implementation partners, which will ensure the programme is successfully rolled out across partners’ client / employee / franchisee / supplier base at the regional / national level.

What are the key benefits of Empretec?
Overall: inspires entrepreneurs to start, grow and develop their businesses
For the government: generates employment, improves quality of life, strengthens the base of the national economy.

Lending institutions: lender-client relationships become more reliable, stable, and profitable
Trans-national companies: better quality of suppliers, lower transaction costs
SMEs: improves productivity and efficiency; and promotes domestic and cross-border business linkages. These benefits have been delivered to stakeholders of the programme in 33 countries and over the 23 years that Empretec has been in existence.

What are the target groups for Empretec?
There are three target group levels:

Established entrepreneurs
Key officials in financial institutions, public and private agencies interested in furthering the cause of entrepreneurship
Intrapreneurs in large companies, including in government/public/private entities.

How does one participate in the programme? What are the levels of participation available?
The mission of the programme is to set up an entrepreneurial culture in keeping with UNCTAD’s best practices in capacity-building and business linkages. In line with UNCTAD’s neutrality principles, anyone can participate in Empretec by choosing the appropriate level of engagement:
Empretec Chapters:
This is suitable for larger institutions/associations, with:

A large base of entrepreneurs (large companies, SMEs, micro-entrepreneurs and low-literacy entrepreneurs)
Entrepreneur clusters; targeted segments such as women, youth, start-ups, etc
Existing entrepreneurship development projects where the Empretec methodology could add value.

IBF is in the process of setting up Empretec Chapters -- projects or joint ventures with implementing partners. The Chapters will be funded by the participating institutions and will deliver Empretec products in keeping with UNCTAD’s principles and methodology.

Workshops:
This is open to any business-owner, key functionary in government, public and the private sectors.Participants are coached by UNCTAD certified master-trainers who are successful entrepreneurs and have set up a life-long bond with the Empretec system.

How is Empretec being structured in India?
IBF is setting up a National Centre for Empretecand several entity-specific Chapters which will report to the National Centre. The National Centre and the Chapters will be guided and monitored by the National Consultative Committee comprising stakeholders / members from UNCTAD, the governments, chambers of commerce, sponsors, key industry specialists, and the India hosting entity, IBF. Empreec’s National Centre and the Chapters will interact, share practices and collaborate on an ongoing basis and the Consultative Committee will review the progress of the project on a regular basis.

How are the Empretec workshops different from other widely available capacity-building programmes?
Empretec complements, rather than replaces, capacity-building programmes in operation. As the United Nations’ flagship capacity-building programme it can be integrated with other programmes run by governments, public and private sectors, worldwide. Empretechelps entrepreneurs identify and reinforcepersonal opportunities through a process of self-assessment. Workshops give clarity about what entrepreneurs want to achieve with their businesses in the short and long term and help them achieve these goals through core behavioural improvement. Behavioural change brings about operational and business efficiency.

Here are the key characteristics:

Personal competencies addressed: Empretec lays stress on ten motivational and personal competencies
A “one-stop” shop: The National Centre and the EmpretecChapters would provide a wide range of training and business development services
A life bond: The association of “Empretecos” (the trainers’ peer network) would bring together successful, committed entrepreneurs within India and beyond
Networking and mentoring: Trainers will share their training methodology and evaluation tools, run the “train the trainers” sessions and offer mentoring
Local certified trainers:Initially to be delivered in English, once India develops local trainers, training would be delivered in regional languages
Learning by doing: All trainers are successful business or social entrepreneurs
Large scope of entrepreneur-delegate selection (TNCs, SMEs, micro-entrepreneurs and low-literacy entrepreneurs qualify)
Branding and credibility of content and methodology (23 years experience in capacity building)
Multi-level platforms: Empretec will create multiple-level platforms for Indian entrepreneurs, covering the regional, national and international contexts
Credentials and track record: Since its formation in 1988, Empretec has been established in 33 countries and has added value to over 210,000 entrepreneurs – helping people found or expand businesses, creating thousands of jobs in the process.

Does Empretec help eradicate poverty?
Entrepreneurship and the development of the private sector are essential to achieving the Millennium Development Goal of eradicating extreme poverty. Entrepreneurs offer a variety of products and services, making economies more resilient and less vulnerable to downturns in particular economic sectors. In addition, they create a sense of practical optimism – given sufficient examples, families and communities understand that going into business is a feasible and effective means of escaping poverty. Empretec operates with these beliefs as a foundation for all its activities and has demonstrated reducing poverty in the countries it has operated in.

What are the core behavioural aspects stressed upon by Empretec workshops?

Opportunity-seeking and initiative
Persistence
Fulfilling of commitments
Demand for quality and efficiency
Calculated risk-taking
Goal setting
Information-seeking
Systematic planning and monitoring
Persuasion and networking, for achieving…
Independence and self-confidence

Which are the entities that have evinced interest in collaborating with IBF to benefit from Empretec in India?

Governments of states and government agencies
Financial institutions, such as the State Bank of India
Chambers of commerce, such as the Federation of Indian Export Organizations and
EEPC India (formerly Engineering Export Promotion Council of India)
Large companies and small and medium business-owners
IBF has received offers of Chapters and delegate-sponsorships as well.

What is the reporting structure of IBF as host of Empretec in India, and how are the funds controlled and managed?
For implementation of Empretec in India, IBF, as hosts, will report to a Consultative Committee, comprising members from the Government of India, chambers of commerce, sponsors, UNCTAD officials and other key functionaries and industry experts. The consultative committee will guide the programme and monitor the raising and end use of funds by IBF and its Chapters.

What is IBF’s principle role and responsibility with respect to Empretec?
IBF’s roles and responsibilities are clearly laid down in an agreement entered into between UNCTAD and IBF for the promotion, launch and development of Empretec in India.

How many countries have requested the programme apart from those it is already operational in?
Empretec is operational through its National Centres in 33 countries, mostly in Africa, Latin America and Europe. 27 other countries have requested the programme of UNCTAD and are awaiting clearances. IBF’s launch of Empretec in India is a significant milestone in Empretec’s march to “inspiring entrepreneurship across the world”.

What is the mission of Empretec in India? What are the expectations of UNCTAD and IBF from Empretec in India?
Empretec’s mission is to work with the central and state governments and industry to build an entrepreneurial culture in India. UNCTAD’s business linkages programme and business solutions would also be offered within the Empretec portfolio of services.
At an operational level, IBF, hosting the programme in India, and in the process of setting up Chapters and Workshops, will ensure that the products are localized, customized to participants’ needs.

Are Internet references / links for Empretec available?
Empretec resources, on:                www.empretec.net
UNCTAD is on:                               www.unctad.org
IBF is on:                                      www.ibf-group.ch