On November 7-8th a final module in sales training took place in Stockholm. Representatives from nine different companies and authorities in Namibia participated in the International Trade Management Program (ITM Concept.)
The International Trade Management Program is initiated with the aim of identifying, plan and execute promotional and stimulating activities for increase of trade and other commercial relations between Sweden and Namibia. The project is financed by Sida and the Swedish Trade Council in Johannesburg has been appointed to manage the project.
"The evaluation of the international seminars shows that we have succeeded in creating a level and content that is attractive both in Europe and Namibia", says Hasse Karlsson, one of the developers of the ITM Concept.
The ITM program in Namibia started in June 2006 and is divided into four modules, including the following topics: International Market Research, Managing Across Cultures, Change Management, International Trade Marketing, Sales Training and Business Match Making. Local seminars in Trade Conditions and export coaching in each company to help the SMEs to develop an international business plan is also part of this program. The program is running over a period over 8 months.
"The Match-Making between Namibian and Swedish companies have already resulted in business opportunities, for example in the fish industry and in the tourism sector", says Sofie Orrling, project manager, Swedish Trade Council Johannesburg.
"The development of the African countries will not only happen by increased political transparency and stability. It is necessary that business activities also develop. In order to achieve that they will need improved infrastructure, and extended international network to build up local competence, including everything from technology to international trade and management", says Tomas Fellbom, regional manager Africa at Swedish Trade Council
He continues:
"The Swedish Trade Council will now start a similar project in South Africa, where the structure of local competence and international network also is a key to sustainable success. Our ambition is to develop this concept in several African countries but also in other parts of the world".
Facts about the ITM Concept
The ITM Concept was developed by professors and experts from a total of seven European countries within an EU project 2001-2005. The concept is a blend of seminars on export techniques given locally in the own local language, export coaching via the office abroad and international seminars on Change Management, Managing Across Culture, Market Research, Trade Strategies and Export Sales Training delivered by international lecturers. The seminars are given jointly with other countries using the ITM Concept.