During the month of April 2007, as part of the Partnership for Lebanon, Private Sector Initiative, the US Chamber of Commerce will lend targeted technical assistance and training aimed at upgrading the business capabilities of Lebanese SMEs.  The three-course series, on Strategic Planning for Small Business, Developing a Marketing Strategy and Improving Business Performance, is the first step in helping local small businesses obtain the skills necessary to achieve the long term goal of strategic business partnerships and alliances with the U.S. private sector.   Entrepreneurs and business managers in emerging markets are often so preoccupied with immediate issues that they lose sight of their ultimate objectives. That is why a business review or preparation of a strategic plan is a vital necessity.  Additionally, one of the biggest challenges small firms face is selling products and services that when packaged improperly, are viewed by potential buyers and partners as intangible or inferior.  Finally, the quest to achieve management efficiency and improved business performance is a test that firms face throughout the world.  In the developing world, this is a particularly daunting challenge, given some of the market as well as artificial barriers that inhibit efficient operations.

 

Each training course will last three days, and will be conducted at the American University of Beirut.  Businesses that participate in the program will become Business Matching Initiative Partners, and receive U.S. Chamber of Commerce Diplomas for Level I courses completed. 

 

 

This training will be linked to other Partnership for Lebanon activities that are designed to meet the objectives of stimulating economic growth, prosperity and stability in the country.  Specifically, this training, along with targeted follow-on efforts, will help lend valuable skills to small business leaders that will enable them to better market project and partnership opportunities.  This will ultimately help create jobs and revive the back-bone of the Lebanese economy—Small-to-Medium Size Enterprise.  Additionally, this effort will expand the participatory process of the overall Business Matching Process put in place by the Partnership for Lebanon by including SMEs.