One week left for joining the EU Business Avenues Programme

The deadline for joining the EU Business Avenues is approaching, so companies planning to expand their businesses in South Asia through this initiative launched by the European Commission can apply on the campaign’s website www.businessavenues.eu by July 11, 2014, announces Deloitte, partner of the EU Commission.

EU Business Avenues is a pilot programme designed to strengthen the presence of European companies in South East Asia by organizing one-week Business Missions in Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam, in the context of ongoing trade negotiations between the EU and South East Asian countries, aiming to capitalize on the recently initiated EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Singapore, expected to become effective towards the end of 2014, as well as EU trade negotiations with Malaysia and Vietnam.

The programme targets companies operating in the Clean Technologies sector, with a focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency. It provides strategic, logistic and financial support for 40 selected European Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises to gain first-hand experience of dynamic, local markets and establish business contacts with South East Asian companies.

The selection process will take into account some well-defined criteria, hence, in order for a company to be eligible, it should be in business for five years and be able to demonstrate three years of financial figures, have entire or majority EU ownership, be located and have main activities in the EU; be active and operational in the Clean Technologies sector, either as a producer, a sub-contractor or as an R&D or engineering company in clean energy technologies; should prove interest in developing business in South East Asian markets; should have a sufficient turnover and number of employees to enter South East Asian markets successfully.

The programmewill take place between October 31 and 27, 2014 and covers costs for accommodation in Singapore and Malaysia, offers a two-day exhibition space and offsets 80 percent of the optional additional services.