Assists small and medium scale businesses, helping them set up and/or develop their export structure through different service areas. The goal is to insert PYMEs into the international market, thereby helping to promote and develop their exports.

The different services provided by the Business Development area include:

Strengthening Associative Arrangements

Provides assistance to businesses in developing their exports in the context of different productive associative arrangements, such as producer associations, cooperatives, and others.

Part Time Business Agents

Part Time Agents (GTPs) are consultants who act as Export Managers for a group of Small and Medium Scale Businesses (PYMEs), particularly those that are associated. The GTPs support the companies and/or associations for a specific period of time, helping develop their export structures while simultaneously training someone within the company to carry out the functions of Export Manager in the future.

Development of Export Projects

Provides assistance from financial analysts with expertise in project formulation. These analysts help to insure the “bankability” of PYME projects, and assist them in obtaining credit for developing and expanding their operations.

Quality and Certification

Introduces producers to different certification programs that improve the quality of their products and businesses. Also, advises exporters about the quality standards required by foreign markets and how to meet them.

Training

Facilitates and provides training to small and medium scale businesses (PYMEs) through seminars, workshops and conferences about themes of interest that help optimize export structures.

On-Line Connection to the Single Export Window (CETREX)

Exporters can carry out the required procedures and paper-work for sending their products to any part of the world via CEI on the Internet. CEI provides an on-line connection with the Single Export Window located in the Export Transaction Center (CETREX).

Development of Trade Relations with Importing Businesses

Promotes the commercialization of export-quality merchandise produced by Nicaraguan PYMEs, through establishing partnerships with importers in export markets. Using their own experiences as well as market studies, these companies will determine product demand and adequate channels for distributing Nicaraguan products abroad.

This area provides the following services:

• Export cost calculations.
• Analysis of export sensitivity.
• Development of export plans and monitoring.
• Permanent contact with importers.
• Coordination of export activities with producers and importers.
• Assistance with export logistics.
• Assistance with negotiations and forms of payment to producers.
• Promotion of products at trade fairs.
• Information about market studies based on demand.