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WWW.AWEX.BE EXPORT & INVESTMENT

AER Summer School 24-30 August 2008 What is the role of the region in promoting youth entrepreneurship ? Examples from Wallonia, including the export field Philippe Suinen, CEO Wallonia Foreign Trade and Investment Agency. WWW.AWEX.BE EXPORT & INVESTMENT. WALLONIA : A REGION IN THE

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WWW.AWEX.BE EXPORT & INVESTMENT

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  1. AER Summer School 24-30 August 2008 What is the role of the region in promoting youth entrepreneurship ? Examples from Wallonia, including the export field Philippe Suinen, CEO Wallonia Foreign Trade and Investment Agency WWW.AWEX.BE EXPORT & INVESTMENT

  2. WALLONIA : A REGION IN THE VERY HEART OF EUROPE In the centre of a 500 million consumers market

  3. WALLONIA : an autonomous region • Competencies in numerous matters related to its economic policy (including external relation capacities) : employment and professional training, foreign trade and investment, applied research and new technologies, transport and public works, environment, agriculture, energy and water. • Active at the international level together with the French-speaking Community of Belgium, which is responsible for culture, youth, education, basic research, etc.

  4. AWEX : A FEW FACTS AND FIGURES • Agency of the Walloon Region of Belgium in charge of promoting foreign trade and attracting foreign investment • Created in 1998 • Headquarters in Brussels (foreign trade) and Namur (foreign investment) • Six regional centres in Wallonia • Worlwide network covering more than 100 markets • 450 employees of which 200 abroad • Budget 2008 : € 68,4 millions • Certified ISO 9001 since 2002

  5. Promotion of youth entrepreneurship in Wallonia : public agencies involved • AWEX : Wallonia Foreign Trade and Investment Agency • WBI : Wallonia-Brussels International Agency which is responsible for the international relations of the Walloon Region and the French-speaking Community of Belgium • BIJ : International Youth Office of WBI • FOREM (Walloon Office for Employment and Professional Training) • IFAPME (Agency for the Training of Self-Employed and SMEs Workers) • ASE (Agency for Economic Stimulation)

  6. Promotion of youth entrepreneurship in Wallonia : programmes implemented • EXPLORT (joint programme managed by AWEX and FOREM) • International Youth Office programmes • Tremplin Jeunes (Springboard for Young People) • AQWBJ (Wallonia-Brussels-Quebec Youth Agency) • Eurodyssée • IFAG (Francophone Institute for Management) • FOREM’s programmes • Languages Plan • Forem International Traineeship (FIT) • Transeurop • WBI-World excellence grants • Programme promoting creative use of interculturalism in business • ASE’s programme promoting entrepreneurial spirit • IFAPME’s programmes

  7. Promotion of youth entrepreneurship in Wallonia : EXPLORT ORIGIN • Implemented in 2006 in the framework of the Priority Action Plan for the Future of Wallonia (known as the Marshall Plan) which provides for an intensification of in-company training in export-related trades intended for young people (target of 350 trainees per year from 2006 to 2009) OBJECTIVES • To provide youth (students and young graduate job-seekers) with intensive training in international trade in accordance with the market’s needs • To offer a first professional experience through company practice (apprenticeship) and export missions abroad • To help Walloon SMEs grow on international markets thanks to specifically trained young personnel • To focus on the development of intercultural dimensions and language skills

  8. Promotion of youth entrepreneurship in Wallonia : EXPLORT MAIN STAGES • Information and guidance • Modular training (basic module and specialisations) • Linguistic immersion (if necessary) • In-company training period • Assignments abroad on behalf of a Walloon company or within AWEX offices • Assistance in seeking employment FROM THE LAUNCHING IN SEPTEMBER 2006 • 426 EXPLORT trainees have helped Walloon companies to develop internationnaly • Around 85% of trainees have found a job

  9. Promotion of youth entrepreneurship in Wallonia : International Youth Office (BIJ) • Tremplin Jeunes (Springboard for Young People) • Set up under an EU programme • Improves youth skills by offering practical work experience in a foreign business located in the EU zone • Stimulates the search for new knowledge in order to launch a commercial or cultural project / business • Wallonia-Brussels-Quebec Youth Agency, which promotes • Development of partnerships, business contacts and potential markets in Quebec • Exploratory or preparatory missions with a view to subsequent implementation of a project in Quebec • Implementation of joint projects with partners from Quebec

  10. Promotion of youth entrepreneurship in Wallonia : Eurodyssée and IFAG • Eurodyssée • Exchange programme of the Assembly of Regions of Europe • Provides young graduates with a first professional experience in a foreign company based in an European region • IFAG • Francophone Institute for Management located in Sofia • Offers future graduates with work experience in foreign companies through the setting-up of contacts between local and Walloon firms (particularly in Eastern Europe)

  11. Promotion of youth entrepreneurship in Wallonia : FOREM • Languages Plan • A key measure of the Marshall Plan (budget of € 60 millions) allowing young people to improve their knowledge of foreign languages by providing intensive coaching and training: • 8,000 extra immersion grants • 12,000 extra training courses for job-seekers • 500,000 extra cheques for language training • 800 additional young people trained abroad through the EXPLORT programme • Forem International Traineeship (FIT) and Transeurope • Provides young job-seekers with work experience abroad in order to fine tune a career plan, improve language knowledge or start a specialisation

  12. Promotion of youth entrepreneurship in Wallonia : other programmes • WBI-World excellence grants • Promotes the mobility of Walloon graduates and researchers in foreign institutions worldwide with a focus on the 5 competitiveness clusters of the Walloon region (aerospace, transport and logistics, mechanical engineering, life sciences and agro-industry) • Programme for the creative use of interculturalism in business • Assists young entrepreneurs in pooling experiences, technologies and projects with potential foreign partners • Focuses on the competitiveness clusters

  13. Promotion of youth entrepreneurship in Wallonia : other programmes • Entrepreneurial Spirit programme • Managed by the ASE (Agency for Economic Stimulation) created in 2006 by the Marshall Plan • Offers grants to scholars and students at all levels (primary, secondary and university) for the development of projects promoting entrepreneurship in their school environment • IFAPME’s programmes • Provides training modules and courses in entrepreneurship development and business creation management to self-employed and SMEs workers • Offers strategic and practical assistance in the creation or purchase of businesses

  14. The youth entrepreneurship chain in Wallonia • Promote entrepreneurship and risk-taking attitude at school and in the school environment • Develop and encourage interculturality in your own region • Create a culture of necessary internationalisation • Organise incentives for international projects which aim to create and strengthen businesses • Provide awards and grants for youth involvment in businesses • Stimulate networking and clustering

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