Europe and the Entrepreneuer

European SME Week launched

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Tuesday, May 25, 2010
ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News A pan-European campaign for small and medium enterprises, or SMEs, started Tuesday to encourage, inspire and motivate more people to become entrepreneurs.

The European SME Week, initiated for the first time in 2009 by the European Commission Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry, is a decentralized campaign with diverse events organized by business associations, support providers, regional and local authorities.

Some events, including seminars and conferences, are organized within the context of the SME Week.

European SME Week 2010 would take place in 37 participating countries, including Turkey, which is fully decentralized in order for events and activities to take place as close as possible to established and potential entrepreneurs.

The objectives of the SME Week are to inform entrepreneurs of SMEs about available support at European, national, regional and local levels as well as motivate more people to become entrepreneurs.

Events are organized at national, regional or local level by business organizations, business support providers, as well as by national, regional and local authorities in the participating countries. These events should also be an opportunity for existing SMEs to share their experiences and to further develop their businesses.

In 2009, more than 1,200 national, regional and local events took place in various settings as part of European SME Week, addressing a wide range of topics.

Existing entrepreneurs, potential entrepreneurs, young people, business organizations, support providers, public authorities and educational institutions can get involved in European SME Week. Events range from conferences and competitions to exhibitions and company open days.

Topics during European SME Week include "start-ups," "corporate social responsibility" and "tax and legal issues" as well as "female entrepreneurship," "social economy" and other fields essential to running SMEs.

Whereas the peak of the campaign will be the week from 25 May to 1 June, events taking place during May and June can be registered under the banner of European SME Week.