BY NDUMBE BELL GASTON IN DOUALA
The SPX-CMR, the Minpmessa agency that subcontracts business offerings from large corporations to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs and SMIs) and industries, last Friday February 9, organized a sensitization seminar to encourage SMEs on the need to participate in exhibitions, expositions or trade fairs both internally and internationally.
Some of the objectives underscored in this session is for SPX-CMR to inform especially members and the public that they can be supported to have visas, stands, and other necessities to enable them attend exhibitions internationally and showcase their tools, products and services.
Aside from this new facilitation role by SPX-CMR, SMEs can benefit from partnerships arranged in the trade fair or exhibition stands, that is why they are now being informed as to what can be done to benefit SMEs at every stage, today.
However the General Manager of SPX-CMR regretted that some trade fairs or exhibitions that are to take place in Germany in April and France in March this year may not be attended because of late arrangements.
EvaristeYameni said their calculations are that SMEs will not be able to produce their products and services with the time left, so they have reached a consensus to attend those expositions of next year, to allow members ample time to be prepared. To achieve this goals they are to organize early preparation seminars in September and November this year to evaluate what remains to be done. Those who think they want to attend the expositions of this year will be free to go. There are many things to benefit from.
On the forum that SPX earlier organized at the GICAM precincts, EvaristeYameni disclosed that a charter or code of conduct was discussed to impregnate good practices. The deed is expected to be signed or be made binding to big corporations and SMEs to improve and respect conditions especially in matters of duration, prompt payments or avoiding delays in all these. There have been complaints by SMEs against big corporations for delaying payments.
The type of court that could settle these issues was discussed. Members were informed to seek such solutions in GICAM arbitration centres or that on the Chamber of Commerce.Said the GM, “It is just to ensure a conducive atmosphere and fair play to those we link. Both parties working together will respect the terms.”
Speaking to the Manager of Digital sarl who attended “I think that it is very important for subcontractors to participate in international exhibitions because we shall meet with others whose experience might help improve our capacities and the use of advanced technologies. It is very important to make more business relations than to live like an island. You will be well informed and that can benefit you in, say, two years.
It is advantageous for managers to meet their counterparts in such expositions, not workers. So, we want SPX-CMR to bevery stringent about their selection process for such occasions.”