Past events

USAID E&E Bureau's Conference on Competitiveness


16/6/2009


R egional C ompetitiveness I nitiative
 
 
Dear colleagues and friends,



The USAID Europe and Eurasia Bureau’s Economic Growth Office (EE/EG) is pleased to announce the dates for the “4th Regional Competitiveness Conference in Southeast Europe – Financial Crisis and the Effects on the Competitiveness of the Region” which will take place at the Hyatt Hotel,in Kyiv, Ukraine June 16-18, 2009. The EE/EG Regional Competitiveness Initiative invites stakeholders from South East Europe, Central Eastern Europe and the Caucasus to share best practices that enhance competitiveness of each country and the regions. Drawing on the experiences of local and regional experts, lessons learned from a wide variety of USAID projects will be shared.

 

This conference is focused on practical examples and solutions and we believe it will be particularly valuable for USAID personnel and projects working in economic growth and business development. We also believe that local clients and partner organizations will benefit tremendously from this event, not only to learn from regional best practices, but also for the networking opportunities available.


We look forward to seeing you on June 16 -18 in Kyiv!



Best Regards,

The RCI team 

Day 3 Conference Agenda (June 18)

link to online registration form is located at the bottom of this page

 

Шановні колеги та друзі!

Відділ економічного розвитку Бюро USAID по країнах Європи та Євразії оголошує дату проведення четвертої щорічної регіональної конференції з питань конкурентноздатності у Південно-Східній Європі—«Фінансова криза та її вплив на конкурентноздатність у регіоні», яка відбудеться 16-18 червня 2009 р. у готелі «Хаятт Рідженсі Київ». Взяти участь у цьому заході запрошуються зацікавлені представники країн Південно-Східної, Центральної та Східної Європи, а також Кавказу. Учасники конференції матимуть нагоду для обміну найкращим досвідом з питань заохочення конкурентноздатності у країнах цього регіону та регіонах загалом. Експерти з України та інших країн регіону обміняються думками стосовно стану справ у сфері конкурентноздатності, поділяться набутим досвідом та досягненнями у результаті виконання різних проектів USAID.

У рамках роботи конференції, увагу буде зосереджено на практичних питаннях та підходах до їх вирішення, що стане у пригоді працівникам USAID, які реалізують проекти економічного розвитку та підприємництва. Ми також переконані, що місцеві учасники конференції та партнерські організації знайдуть цей захід  корисним не лише тому, що матимуть нагоду для обміну найкращим досвідом з питань заохочення конкурентноздатності але і зможуть налагодити ділові контакти.

Сподіваємось на Вашу участь у цьому важливому заході, який відбудеться 16-18 червня 2009 р. у готелі «Хаятт Рідженсі Київ».


З повагою

Організатори конференції

ПОРЯДОК ДЕННИЙ - Четверта щорічна регіональна конференція з питань розвитку конкурентоспроможності та економічного зростання

 

 

Regional Best Practices Workshop


24/6/2008


Regional Best Practices Workshop in Armenia


Dear friends and colleagues,

The USAID Regional Competitiveness Initiative (RCI) and the Business Growth Initiative (BGI), in cooperation with the USAID Competitive Armenian Private Sector (CAPS) project are pleased to announce the “The Regional Economic Growth Best Practices Workshop,” which will take place in Yerevan , Armenia , on June 24 and 25, 2008. The event will feature leading experts from the US, South East Europe and the Caucasus and highlight the experience of specialists working in your region dealing with issues you encounter. Agenda will be uploaded soon.

The key note presentation will be Competitiveness in Armenia. The first day of the workshop will focus on “Opportunities and Challenges in Tourism and ICT,” featuring presentations and break-out sessions on topics that include:

 

  • Bed and Breakfast Quality Services

     

  • Specialty Niche Tourism Products – Adventure tourism, Food, Wine, and Cultural Tourism

     

  • Promoting Tourism Destinations

     

  • Information Communication and Technology (ICT) and Economic Growth

     

  • ICT Industry Standards and Certifications (IT Mark and CMMI)

     

  • Application of New ICT Technology to Traditional Industry 

     

  • How government can leverage ICT to improve the business environment

     

 

 

The second day of the workshop will be dedicated to practical implementation of “Business Service Delivery Mechanisms and Regional Cooperation”.  Topics to be discussed include:

 

  • Best Practices in Business Services Delivery Mechanisms

     

  • Business Education and Training of Trainers

     

  • Best practices in Business Centers and Incubators

     

  • Opportunities for Regional Cooperation

     

  • Regional Tourism Cooperation, Challenges and Opportunities

     

  • Regional ICT Cooperation, Challenges and Opportunities

     

 

 

Please, fill in our form in order to register for the event. Participants may also contact the event coordinator, BC Serdon, at register@bcserdon.com for further assistance and information.

 

 

 

This workshop will be particularly valuable for USAID personnel and projects working with economic growth and business development.  We believe that your local clients and partner organizations will also benefit tremendously from the event.  The workshop will be focused on practical examples and solutions. 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

RCI Annual Conference 2008


20/5/2008


 

Regional C ompetitiveness I nitiative (RCI)

 

Annual Conference

 

 
May 20-22, 2008

 

  Przno (near Budva),Montenegro


 

    The USAID Europe and Eurasia Bureau’s Economic Growth Office (EE/EG) is pleased to announce the dates for the “3rdRegional Competitiveness Conference in Southeast Europe – Enhancing Regional Competitiveness: Past, Present and Future” which will take place at the Maestral Hotel, near Budva, Montenegro on May 20-22, 2008. The EE/EG Regional Competitiveness Initiative invites regional stakeholders from Eastern Europe and the Caucasus to share best practices in tourism and agribusiness, business service delivery mechanisms, e-solutions tha tenhance competitiveness, and investment attraction.   Drawing on the experiences of local and regional experts, lessons learned from a wide variety of USAID projects will be shared.

 

 

   

    This conferenceis focused on practical examples and solutions and we believe it will beparticularly valuable for USAID personnel and projects working in economicgrowth and business development.  We also believe that local clients andpartner organizations will benefit tremendously from this event, not only tolearn from regional best practices, but also for the networking opportunities available.

 

    The RCI Team has booked the Maestral Hotel especially for conference participants at the price of 79 Euro for a single room per night.


For more information, please, contact us: register@bcserdon.com
 

 

  Agenda last update: 30 April 2008

 

Agribusiness Workshop


10/4/2008


Agribusiness Workshop

 

 

 

 

Agriculture Market Information System(AMIS) and Online Products Value Chain Bourse

 

April 10th,2008


Skopje , Macedonia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HolydayInn

 


 

AGRA FAIR 2008


19/2/2008


    EMBASSY OF THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS

AGRA FAIR Feb 19-23, 2008

PLOVDIV, BULGARIA


    For fourth consecutive year, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands joined the International Agricultural Exhibition AGRA 2008. As a continuation of a long-lasting tradition, the exhibition took place in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. In its 2008 edition, the Dutch Embassy brought to Bulgaria nine Dutch companies, covering various specific areas in agriculture – producers of bulb, and planting material; representatives of the packing industry, farm engineers, meat processors, producers of milking, as well as internal environment control equipment. For some of the companies, this was a first touch to the Bulgarian market, potential customers, and partners.

    Additionally, the Dutch Embassy organized the “ Holland – The Flower Power” Seminar, which took place on February 21, 2008. The seminar offered interesting success stories and practical examples in horticulture. All participants had the opportunity to discuss their current professional issues, challenges, and opportunities in an informal networking after the seminar.

    Both initiatives were planned, prepared, and implemented by BC Serdon.

    Please find pictures from the Dutch stand and the seminar in the Gallery. For more information, please, contact us at Serdon@bcserdon.com

 

Regional USAID AgribusinessProjects Coordination Workshop


25/1/2008


Regional USAID Agribusiness Projects Coordination Workshop

 

 

January 25, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

As we enter the New Year it seems logical to initiate a coordination activity for agribusiness-related projects in the region.  There are several new agribusiness-related projects, and previous coordination efforts via the Agribusiness Committee were well received.  Also with the advent of EU accession and regional trade agreements such as CEFTA, the benefits of sharing regional experience and coordination of activities seem to be substantial.

The RCI team will be in the region later in January doing a competitiveness enhancement lessons, learned analysis and in Skopje January 22 – 24.  While it is rather short notice,we would like to hold a regional agribusiness projects coordination workshop in Skopjeon, Friday, 25 January.

 

 

The Macedonia AgBiz Program has agreed to be the local host for the workshop.

 

 

 

 

RCI Round Table: “Competitiveness– Past, Present, Future”


22/1/2008


      RCI Round Table: “Competitiveness– Past, Present, Future”

January 22, 2008

 

Happy New Year, we wish you a healthy and successful 2008!

 

  On behalf of the E&E Bureau and the Regional Competitiveness Initiative (RCI) Project, we would like to invite you to a Round Table discussion:  " Competitiveness - Past, Present, and Future." The halfday event will be held on January 22nd, 09:00 to 13:00, at the Hyatt,Belgrade, Serbia.

  As you know, the USAID Missions in the E&E Region have embraced "Competitiveness" as a means of achieving economic growth.  From 1998 to the present, more than fifteen projects in ten of the countries have supported or endorsed characteristics and attributes that are associated with"Competitiveness."  In two of the countries, a "second generation" of competitiveness projects were recently launched, and at least three other countries are likely to launch new competitiveness projects in the next one or two years. 

  The E&E Bureau is conducting an analysis of the competitiveness project experience to identify key learnings (best practices and lessons learned) from these projects and how this experience is being incorporated into new project designs.  While not intended to be either an evaluation or individual projects or a textbook on"Competitiveness", we believe this assessment can provide guidance to USAID missions and project implementers on design and implementation of competitiveness projects.

The analysis will consist of three parts:

 1) discussions with key individuals both from the implementing organizations and from field staff;

2) a review of relevant project documents such as scopes of work and annual reports;

3)selected interviews with businesses, government officials and local partners who worked with competitiveness projects in the region. 

    The findings will be compiled in a report that will be made available to USAID missions and projects in the region.

 


 

 

Regional Best Practices Workshop


13/11/2007


Regional Best Practices Workshop

 

Tbilisi, Georgia

 

We are sorry to inform you that due to unforeseen circumstances, theRCI/BGI Best Practices Workshop scheduled for Nov. 13-14, 2007 in Tbilisi, Georgia has been postponed.  We arecurrently considering holding the workshop at the same place in thefirst half of February with the same agenda.  The exact dates will beannounced soon.  

 

With invitees andpresenters from Southeastern Europe, Eurasia and the Middle East, the workshops will give new insights on what works and whatchallenges are anticipated. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Regional Competitiveness Initiative (RCI) and the Business GrowthInitiative (BGI) are pleased to co-sponsor this event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IT Community of Practice


27/9/2007


Conference on Regional Cooperation:

IT Community of Practice

Organized by USAID RCI and MASIT

27 September 2007

Aleksandar Palace Hotel

Skopje , Macedonia

The Regional Competitiveness Initiative (RCI), together with USAID / Macedonia and the Macedonian Association for Information Technologies (MASIT) will be organizing a regional IT forum where representatives from South East Europe can discuss the most important topics in the IT sector, including quality assurance, workforce issues, investments and regional cooperation. These specific topics are not only important for the IT sector, but through it for the competitiveness of each country and the region as a whole. We believe in and promote the idea that enhancing the competitiveness of the IT sector increases the competitiveness of all other sectors in an economy and the country as a whole.

***Please note that while there is no registration fee for the conference, participants are responsible for their own transportation and accommodation expenses. Conference organizers have negotiated a rate of 94 EUR per single room per night at the Aleksandar Palace Hotel for participants; hotel reservations are being coordinated by the conference organizers via the e-registration form.
 

Stability Pact eSEE Initiative Workshop on eGovernance


27/9/2007


StabilityPact eSEE Initiative Workshop on eGovernance

Supportedby USAID

September 25-26, 2007

Aleksandar Palace Hotel

Skopje , Macedonia

Objective:  To provide a cooperative venue to enable senior eGovernance officials from eSEE Initiative participants to benefit from an active exchange with official counterparts from the region, from governments with advanced eGovernance Programs, and from key eGovernance Center stakeholders.

 

Participants: senior officials from the eSEE participants’ eGovernance teams, ideally led by the respective “Chief Information Officers” or equivalent, with senior management representatives from the Prime Ministers’ Offices, Ministries of Information Society or Interior (eGovernment or eDemocracy); Education (eEducation), Finance (eProcurement or eCustoms), and Economy (eCommerce, eBusiness, or eCustoms).  In addition, the participants will include the respective eEnvoys of the Stability Pact eSEE initiative and the bSEE Task Force and the respective chairpersons.

 

Expanding Regional ICT Competitiveness: Appropriate Assistance at Different Levels of the Pyramid


16/5/2007


The Regional Competitiveness Initiative (RCI) held its Annual ICT Event entitled“Expanding Regional ICT Competitiveness: Appropriate Assistance at Different Levels of the Pyramid” from May 16-17, 2007, at the Holiday Inn in Skopje, Macedonia.

The USAID Regional Competitiveness Initiative aims to create multi-country and region-wide competitiveness projects in South Eastern Europe, as well as to help coordinate the myriad competitiveness programs currently being instituted by USAID missions and projects in the Europe and Eurasia (E&E) Region. The objective of this forum was to discuss what various kinds of support are needed for businesses of all sizes in the SEE region in order to develop the ICT sector as a whole. In addition to representatives of USAID missions and projects from allover SEE, the conference also included participants and speakers from private sector ICT companies from Macedonia, Bulgaria, Kosovo and Croatia, as well as public officials from Macedonia governmental ministries and the U.S.Embassy in Macedonia.

 

 

New Paths for Regional ICT Success


16/5/2006


The“New Paths for Regional ICT Success” conference was held on May 16-17, 2006, in Zagreb, Croatia, at the Regent EsplanadeHotel.   It focused on takingsteps to promote regional technical excellence and inter-firm teamingcapacity, developing a clear brand for Southeast Europein the global ICT marketplace and leveraging new resources for ICT initiativesto become self-sustaining. Participants included leading ICT associations inthe region, successful entrepreneurs, representatives of government andacademia, as well as the European Software Institute (Sofia). A visit to thenew Microsoft Business Technology Center in Varazdin was among the highlightsof the event. During the two-day gathering, participants explored innovativesolutions and defined opportunities for regional action. Roundtables,presentations, and interactive breakout sessions addressed the followinginterests of ICT stakeholders:

 
- For ICT firms, the conference explored new ways to spread neededskills, mobilize talent on a regional basis, and team with other firms toenlarge market share;

 
- For universities and technical institutes, the conference introducednew market opportunities to offer actual and online courses and certificationsto meet business needs across the region;

 
- For ICT incubators, telecenters, and ICT park developers andoperators, the conference offered opportunities to adopt innovative businessmodels and to build links to leading universities and technical institutes thathelp attract paying users and foster competitive success;  

 
- For public sector organizations, the conference reviewed innovativepartnerships with the private sector to introduce e-Government solutions thatimprove services to the citizen and enhance the enabling environment for ICTfirms;

 
- For USAID missions, the conference examined practical steps fordonor-dependent community access centers to attract paying users and movetoward self-funding operations.

 

Grow Your Business – The Power of Knowledge and Networking


20/9/2005


The Center forEntrepreneurship & Executive Development (CEED) was launched during itsmaiden conference, entitled “Grow Your Business – The Power of Knowledge andNetworking”.   As its slogan indicates(Empowering entrepreneurs and their leadership teams with know-how andnetworks), CEED aims to accelerate the growth of SMEs (Small and MediumEnterprises) and foster the development of true entrepreneurial culture in Bulgaria.   CEED’s initiators and partners are USAID(United States Agency for International Development), SEAF (Small EnterpriseAssistance Funds) and CFE(U.S. Russia Center for Entrepreneurship).  The conference, also acting as a launch event, was organized to providea platform for Bulgarian business leaders to present their experience innetworking and sharing know-how.   The CFEDeputy Director also had the opportunity to demonstrate how CEED could learnfrom CFE’s experience so far and establish similar methods in Bulgaria.

 

 

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