Project Description

SMElink project is devoted to the support of Nepalese Small and Medium Enterprises. This initiative was launched by the European Union to reduce poverty in Nepal. PlaNet Finance was chosen by the European Union to implement this project because of its expertise. The SMElink project will include developing business linkages between SME entrepreneurs and the provision of business enhancement services including the development of business plans.

Launched in September 2007 under the European Commission Asia Invest Program, SMElink is a three year project its goal is to foster the marketability and competitiveness of Nepalese Small and Mediums Enterprises to enhance exports to European and South Asian markets.

Trainings and trade fairs will be organised yearly to give interested Nepalese entrepreneurs, the opportunity to participate and gain visibility. At the end of each year, five (5) SMEs will receive the Small Enterprise Excellence Award (SEEA).

Various Nepalese SMEs will be selected each year based on PlaNet Finance's market survey conducted at the start of Year One. Business plans will be developed yearly for each selected SME. Over the life of the project, the selected SMEs will receive assistance in developing their business plan.

PlaNet Finance will provide the following services to enable the project SMEs better access to European and South Asian markets:

Year One - Our project (SMElink) will concentrate on tools that will assist the selected SMEs.

These will be business marketing tools which will include: the creation and launch of a project web portal, a supply and demand market survey for Nepalese products in European and South Asian markets.

In addition to the selection of product(s) and/or service(s) sectors, European and South Asian SMEs partners will be identified and linked to Nepalese entrepreneurs in order to build business partnership. In addition Nepalese entrepreneurs will be trained on how to access local business capital.

Year Two - SMElink will continue to provide Nepalese entrepreneurs with business performance enhancement services.

Providing these services through the project portal will enable these entrepreneurs to become part of the global information society. Trainings will be given in the streamlining of operational procedures, quality production control, and product marketing.

Year Three - SMElink will concentrate on ensuring a business enabling environment for participating Nepalese SMEs.

Nepalese SME entry into European markets will be monitored through workshops and the application of an SME rating tool. In addition to the SEEA awards, by the conclusion of the project twenty-five (25) SMEs will receive a personalised website developed by PlaNet Finance and twenty-five (25) SMEs will be awarded with laptop computers.

At the end of this three years project, Nepalese, South Asian and European entrepreneurs will have been given the tools to business together by improving their mutual visibility, adapting their techniques so as to create a transparent and trustful business environment.