Project Objective

The overall objective of the project is to assist Turkish and European SMEs and Clusters in order to develop and further expand their international collaborations by creating networks between counterparts, thus promoting the partnership and integration of Turkish and European business communities. With this frame, the actions during the implementation period have focused on the specific objectives as following.

• Determine the needs and requirements of SMEs and Clusters in terms of international networking,
• Increase the capacity of Chambers, Clusters and SMEs on the international networking, marketing, and cooperation,
• Improve the service quality of Turkish Chambers (Eskişehir CI and Sivas CCI) by inserting new departments for cluster coordination,
• Raise the awareness of Chamber staff, members and clusters in the EU-Turkey Customs Union modernization process,
• Develop social dialogue between partners in line with the EU’s Lisbon Strategy,

Project Activities

1. Establishing the project team and initiating the project

2. Cluster Development Module:

• 2.1 Needs Assessment for Clusters on International Networking,
• 2.2 Training Program: Cluster Development by International Networking,
• 2.3 Fact-finding Mission to Spain and France,
• 2.4 Establishment of Cluster Coordination Office in ECI and SCCI)

3. SME Development Module:

• 3.1 Needs Assessment for SMEs on International Networking,
• 3.2 Training Programs: SME Development by International Networking,
• 3.3 Individual Consulting Program on Internationalization,
• 3.4 International Networking Missions in Turkey, Spain and France,
• 3.5 Seminars: SMEs’ Position on the EU-Turkey Customs Union Modernization Process)

4. Dissemination and visibility activities

Project Result

• Needs Assessment in International Networking for Aviation and Railway Clusters (75 SMEs) have been done
• International networking and marketing capacity of Clusters and SMEs has been raised (126 SMEs and 2 Clusters trained on related subjects, 10 SMEs benefited from Individual Consulting Program, more than 50 SMEs and Cluster representatives attended to international networking missions/events in Turkey, Spain and France)
• Cluster Coordination Office was launched by Eskişehir CI (ECI) and Sivas CCI (SCCI) as a new service unit
• Awareness of almost 100 companies was increased on the EU-Turkey Customs Union modernization process
• Social dialog between partners, sectoral clusters and business communities has been improved