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Regional Business Forum – Second Edition

4 September, 2019 By Editor

Regional Business Forum – Second Edition

Date: 1 – 3 October 2019
Venue: Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vojvodina, 11 Hajduk Veljkova St, Novi Sad

 

The Autonomous Province of Vojvodina will host the Second Edition of the Regional Business Forum, it will be an opportunity for companies to exchange their business ideas and find new partners.

Following the success of last year’s forum, this year’s Regional Business Forum will be organised in partnership with the Enterprise Europe Network, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vojvodina, Vojvodina Development Agency and the Novi Sad Fair.

 

Sectors Involved:

– Agriculture & Food
– Metal Processing Industry
– Automotive Industry
– ICT
– Creative Industries

 

Want to know more?

We look forward to having fruitful discussions in Novi Sad, but first…

For more info about the event please read this article.

Regional Business Forum – Second Edition

29 August, 2019 By Editor

The Second Regional Business Forum will take place in Vojvodina from 1-3 October 2019. Given the success of the previous edition, the Assembly of European Regions and the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina want to establish this Regional Business Forum as an unmissable event in the business development year. 

The expertise of the Enterprise Europe Network, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vojvodina, Vojvodina Development Agency and the Novi Sad Fair will help you make the right connections. 

Shaping Business Cooperation

The event will create an opportunity for companies to present their business potentials and ideas and exchange good practices and technologies. Business cooperation will be facilitated by Regional chambers of commerce, Regional development agencies and institutions supporting SMEs development.

Sectoral Diversity

This year, the Regional Business Forum will focus on 5 main sectors: 

  • Agriculture & Food
  • Metal processing industry
  • Automotive industry
  • ICT 
  • Creative industries

Business-to-business Dialogues

Through B2B (business-to-business) meetings, participants will be able to find partners according to their own interests and objectives. The B2B meetings will be managed in advance via the Enterprise Europe Network matchmaking tool: to request B2B meeting, participants have to fill in the required information when registering for the event.

A Tip for your Free Afternoons 

In addition to the busy programme prepared for you, this year’s Regional Business Forum will coincide with the 52nd International Fair of Hunting, Fishing and Tourism in Novi Sad. You will be more than welcome to take part in the fair’s activities!

Further Information & Registration

If you want to know more about the programme, the B2B platform and registration, please visit the Regional Business Forum website.

Photo by: Gerd Altmann on Pixabay

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#ShineBright Umbria promotes business & schools cooperation

4 September, 2017 By Editor

On the occasion of the 2017 AER MYFER award, ShineBright on the region of Umbria, Italy that presented its project of Business at school.

The initiative aims to promote cooperation between schools and the business community by providing training and various related activities to students.

The main objective is to provide young people with the necessary skills for the development of entrepreneurship so as to spread the enterprise’s culture in Umbria’s schools.

The students are getting the opportunity to follow an expert’s training on topics such as the concept of the enterprise, local economy, marketing and communication. The program organises case studies and visit of local companies to complete the training. In the end, students can create a true business plan and take part in competitions at the regional, national and European level to win best business idea!

Throughout the project, the initiators share good practice by organising press conferences and publishing articles in local and national magazines. From 2012 to 2015 over 650 students from 36 schools participated in this program.

This project is a true curriculum-savior as it gives youngsters the opportunity of learning new skills and put them into practice.

For more information check Business at school website.

 

Photo credits: Bryce Evans @Unsplash https://unsplash.com/@artofbryce

Location: Perugia, Umbria, ItalyFollow AER!

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Fostering cooperation among AER and DEIK – the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey

28 September, 2016 By Agnese Pantaloni

AER continues to foster the dialogue and cooperation with Turkish partners both at political and economic level. DEIK – the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey has been welcomed at AER Brussels Office by the AER President Dr Hande Özsan Bozatli together with H.R.H. Prince Laurent of Belgium, her special advisor, AER Secretary General as well as representatives of the Executive Board.

This first meeting has been an occasion to introduce both organisations and to explore several fields of cooperation, being DEIK responsible for leading foreign economic relations of Turkish private sector and for exploring inward and outward investment opportunities, and being AER the largest independent network of regional authorities in wider Europe.

Environment, renewable energies, energy-efficient constructions were identified as areas of mutual interest to join forces and to develop projects and initiatives.  Linked to this AER got the opportunity to talk about  “100 solutions projects campaign” being the European partner chosen by R20 and Leonardo Di Caprio Foundation as part of a big worldwide initiative aimed at financing green projects.

The Renewable Energies House (REH) that hosts AER Brussels Office has been the perfect setting for this meeting, according to the spirt and attention to the green and sustainable aspects that animates both AER and DEIK. H.R.H. Prince Laurent of Belgium proudly showed to DEIK the functioning of the REH which is a unique example of building that obtains its complete heating and cooling requirements entirely from renewable energy sources, using a combination of solid biomass, solar thermal and geothermal energy.

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Summer Academy 2016

3 August, 2016 By Elin Berglie

The AER Summer Academy received in 2016 the support of the ERASMUS+ programme. The Summer Academy 2016 is focused on Youth and Entrepreneurship in Europe’s Regions and it is one of the main events in the calendar of AER and specially the YRN. The lead parter is the Region of Østfold in Norway.

By bringing together decision makers, professionals and youth representatives from the regions in the wider Europe, the AER SA provides an opportunity to share best practice, build networks and promote democratic participation. By focusing on youth entrepreneurship it will strengthen the role of youth as an actor for its own development and the creation of its own opportunities through creativity and innovation.

Here is a summary of the objectives of the project:
  • foster informal learning to equip youth with tools, knowledge and skills that increase their employability.
  • exchange best practices in the area of regional support systems for youth and social entrepreneurship
  • encourage dialogue between youth and decision makers in all policy fields
  • revitalize democracy in Europe and increase youth participation at all levels
  • contribute to meeting the targets of the EU Youth Strategy in youth and social entrepreneurship
Partners of the project
  • Østfold County Council (NO) – Lead partner
  • Istanbul Il Milli Eğitim Müdürlüğü (TK)
  • Electoral Systems Center (AM)
  • Ogarev Mordivia State University (RU)
  • Landstinget Västernorrland (SE)
  • Jönkopings Län (SE)
  • Service Public Regional de Bruxelles (BE)
  • Assemblée des Régions d’Europe (FR)
Pictures of the project

Pictures will be added when the project starts.

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The circular economy: opportunity or threat?

27 January, 2016 By Editor

The circular economy is becoming a central topic in policy and business circles. It is presented as the sustainable alternative to the traditional linear model of economic growth, which has already reached its limits. The linear economy is based on ‘take-make-use-dispose’, whereas the circular economy encourages the reparability of products and the reuse of materials.

But, what is exactly the circular economy? It entails a change in the whole economic paradigm, from the first stages of product design, to the production process and waste management in order to convert waste into useful resources. In this model, the resources are minimised and the live of the materials is prolonged. There is a considerable decrease of waste as when a product has reached the end of its life the resources are reintroduced into the economy.

There are economic opportunities linked to this model as it is intended to boost resource productivity, to provide substantial net material cost savings, to create employment opportunities, and increase innovation. Furthermore, there are environmental and system-wide opportunities. The most relevant ones are the reduction of emissions and primary material consumption, the preservation and improvement of land productivity, and a reduction in negative externalities.

However, the opportunities are not only for businesses as citizens will also benefit from the circular economy model. A greater utility can be reached as a result of more choice, lower prices, and lower total cost of ownership. Political and business circles already recognize its economic and environmental gains.

With the increasing visibility and awareness regarding this topic the European Commission launched the new Circular Economy Package, which seeks to promote resource efficiency throughout the value chain, proposing targeted actions at each stage including product design, manufacturing, usage and end-of-life treatment. Initiatives will include “targeted action” in food, construction, industrial and mining waste, and public procurement. The EC made clear that the circular economy is as much about the economy as it is about the environment.

In order to contribute to the transition towards a more circular economy the AER has been working on this subject from its different committees. The most recent initiative is the Regional Innovation Award 2016 which is dedicated to circular economy projects.

 

More information

  • AER Regional Innovation Award
  • RIA Application form
  • Contact the AER Secretariat for more information

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“In the Bank for Entrepreneurs, you see dreams become a reality.”

18 September, 2015 By Editor

Discover what soulutions the AER partner BNP Paribas Fortis has to offer to entrepreneurs.

+ Learn more about entrepreneurs in Belgium

Find here the interview of Raf Spinoy, Director of the BNP Paribas Fortis Bank for Entrepreneurs (edit this)

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Enjoy the summer with Brussels Airlines

23 June, 2015 By Editor

Brussels Airlines makes you fly this summer! The members and partners of the Assembly of European Regions are entitled to a 10% discount on their flights: all you have to do is to access the webpage, log in and book your travel with the widget. Don’t miss this opportunity, to combine with another discount in one of the 3500 ACCOR hotels worlwide!Follow AER!

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Dubrovnik welcomes Brussels Airlines!

11 April, 2015 By Editor

Brussels Airlines, a member of the AER Business Community is offering a new route to the AER member region of Dubrovnik from this summer!

This route will be connecting Brussels and Dubrovnik in an under 2,5 hour flight. Dubrovnik, located in the south of Croatia, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.

This is a great occasion to discover a beautiful region and the city of Dubrovnik, deeply marked by its history and the war in 1991 during which many buildings were bombed and consequently rebuilt. The city is considered to be an open air museum due to its medieval fortifications.

With our partner Brussels Airlines you can discover this rich in history and culture region on the Dalmatian coast, beside Adriatic Sea, which became a favorite holiday destination.Follow AER!

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BNP Paribas Fortis: The expat’s partner

25 December, 2014 By Editor

“I know how difficult it is, honestly, to be an expat,” he says. “Whatever age you are, it’s difficult because you’re starting a new experience in your life.”

Salvatore Orlando

From his office on the twelfth floor of a high-rise, stately building opposite the North train station in Brussels, Salvatore Orlando (30) oversees the entire national expat clientele of BNP Paribas Fortis banking group in Belgium. Or, as he likes to quip, goes about the humble task of “making the lives of expats easier”. “I know how difficult it is, honestly, to be an expat,” he says. “Whatever age you are, it’s difficult because you’re starting a new experience in your life.” Yet in those first few weeks after their arrival, newcomers in this country typically find many priorities tugging at their time and attention, ones that Salvatore describes as the “side-effects of the move”. Those include looking for an apartment, taking out rent insurance, opening a bank account and registering in the town hall. “These things are very important, critical even, but you didn’t move for this of course,” he says. “So what I wanted to do was to, at least for financial, bank and insurance matters, be there for expats to help them.” If Salvatore comes at this from such a pragmatic vantage point, that’s because he’s been there and done that. Like many expats in this country, Salvatore first came to Belgium as a student. In 2006, he travelled from Toulouse in France (where he studied for one year) to complete a twoyear master’s degree in European studies at the Institute for European Studies at the Free University of Brussels. After graduating, he moved to Prague in Czech Republic, where he would spend the next three years working for consulting firm Accenture, intermittently also staying in Spain, Scotland and England on shorter professional stints – until a traineeship at the heart of continental policymaking and Belgium called again. And this time, Salvatore decided to stick around. In 2010, he joined BNP Paribas Fortis and has stayed put since then. By virtue of not just the European and international institutions, but also the many multinationals, lobbying firms and NGOs headquartered here, Brussels is obviously an important city for expatriates. According to Salvatore, more than 70% of the expats in this country live in Brussels, and more than 52% of them stay in this country for more than seven years, while, at three years, the average duration is much lower in most countries. It was such figures that led him and his colleagues to try out something new in 2013. Salvatore and his then supervisor, a French expat who oversaw the bank’s private and retail banking activities in the Brussels, both saw the same story behind those numbers – an expat crowd in need of a better service, but also a business opportunity. “We said we have to work with these expats,” he remembers. “We had to provide them with a specific offer and service.” One year later, the results of the bank’s local pilot project for expats were so encouraging that the initiative was extended countrywide.

Today, BNP Paribas Fortis has 21 expat branches across the country that differ from the bank’s other branches in both the services and expertise available to international customers. With financial, banking and insurance products tailored to the particular needs of expats, Salvatore says, BNP Paribas Fortis aspires to be a one-stop shop for expats, and not just at a skin-deep level. In May, BNP Paribas Fortis renewed their banking service offer for expats. One of the most touted features of the new programme is the option for customers to remotely request/apply for an account with the bank from anywhere in the world with a few simple clicks and smooth their arrival. And this novelty is important because, in Salvatore’s view, everything begins with a bank account. Newcomers to Belgium need an account to pay their rent deposit, to take out health insurance, to register at their local municipality, and so on. “It’s a vicious circle,” he explains. “But when they arrive they have to think of so many things,” he says, so that setting up a bank account probably doesn’t top their to-do list. His own experience was a case in point. At one time, when still studying in Brussels, ready to pay for his groceries at a local store, his debit card was declined. To this day, Salvatore remains thankful that he had cash on him that day. When he contacted his bank, he discovered that his account had been blocked because between unpacking, settling into the city and registering for courses, he had failed to provide them with a definitive proof of address. It’s those kinds of small things that often trip up expats, he says. Allowing customers to launch the request for opening an account online even before they have set foot in their country of destination solves such conundrums. “You arrive, everything is ready for you, you’re happy, you leave,” Salvatore says. “You start working and studying and you don’t think of any banking or financial issues anymore because we set up everything for you.” Along with its digital and online services, one aspect of the bank’s service that Salvatore is eager to emphasize is the personalized contact offered. “When you open an account in Belgium, a bank staff member is charged with being your personal advisor throughout your stay.” BNP Paribas Fortis is the most international bank in Europe, represented in more than 80 countries worldwide. Salvatore points out: “This allows us to ‘introduce’ our clients within the group, making setting up in a new country so much easier.”

www.bnpparibas.be

This interview was first published in Together magazine © www.togethermag.euFollow AER!

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Cheap tickets with our partner Brussels Airlines

1 December, 2014 By Editor

Message from our partner: « Brussels Airlines, proud member of the AER Business Community since 2013, has good news for you! Due to the implementation of our new booking engine, your widget has been inactive in the last weeks, but from now on, your code is reactivated! As you may already know, Brussels Airlines now has 4 travel options that you can choose from when flying within Europe: Check&Go, Light&Relax, Flex&Fast and Bizz&Class. To find out more about what you can enjoy with each of these travel options, click here.

As from today, you will enjoy a 10% discount by using our widget when you choose to fly Light&Relax, Flex&Fast. You will also be able to use your widget to enjoy your 10% discount when you fly in Economy Class to any of our intercontinental destinations in Africa.

Please be informed that as from January 2015, discounts will be applicable when you spend the night of Saturday to Sunday at your leisure destination on all travel options except Check&Go.

We look forward to welcoming you on board soon!
Brussels Airlines ».Follow AER!

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Welcome to BNP Paribas Fortis

29 October, 2014 By Editor

AER is pleased to welcome a new partner in its Business Community: BNP Paribas Fortis.

BNP Paribas Fortis, a Belgian bank with an international approach.
We are part of the BNP Paribas group, a European leader on a global scale in terms of banking and financial services, active in 80 countries. This allows us to provide a unique pan-European network with a diverse portfolio of offerings for our customers.

 

The Assembly of European Regions proposes win-win partnerships by connecting companies with the regional world. While businesses can share their vision in their field of knowledge, AER facilitates the access to the regional decision-makers and acts as a hub for companies within the wide regional network. The AER offers to companies the opportunity to highlight and develop their business, to share their expertise, and to create new dynamics and synergies with many European regions and other companies.

The AER Business Community is a unique opportunity for your company to gain more visibility and create exclusive contacts across Europe!

Find all the steps to become a Business partner here.Follow AER!

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Special focus on AER Business Partner, Innovator LLC

29 October, 2014 By Editor

Innovator LLC (Tbilisi, Georgia) is an experienced systems integrator company in the field of telecommunication.

The company offers to its customers innovative solutions based on modern technologies. In depth study of customer requests gives the opportunity to create individual solution for each of them based on their needs. Depending on the wishes of their customers, Innovator can provide single equipment or make a complex broadcast solution for TV stations, production studios, concert halls, opera houses, theatres, university and school TV studios, etc. The company also successfully implemented projects for Parliaments, national and regional broadcasters, and private TV stations.
With modern, flexible and innovative technical solutions, Innovator gives customers new opportunities to develop. Discover more here.Follow AER!

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Marian-Constantin Vasile, President of AER Committee 1, live from EBS 2014

21 May, 2014 By Editor

Mr Marian-Constantin Vasile, President of AER Committee on Economy and Regional development, is giving an exclusive interview to Carlo Motta from the European Sting live at the Sing’s pavilion at European Business Summit 2014 (14-15 May).

Mr Vasile is sharing his insights on the scope of the AER Committee that he is leading.

For more information: [email protected] AER!

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AER reception: the new platform for exchange and cooperation

6 November, 2013 By Johanna Pacevicius

invitation-AERreceptionIn its 2020 strategy, AER has adopted a new strategic approach towards the outside world. In order to benefit from the know-how and expertise of other networks and partners, AER is developing strategic partnerships with thematic networks and associations, but also with private partners and SMEs. To enhance this cooperation as well as to create a platform for exchange and contacts, AER organised a networking reception on 5th of November in the premises of its partner Brussels Airlines, at Zaventem Airport. Over 100 participants, including regional politicians and representatives from the European Commission and regional Brussels offices, European associations and networks, as well as private and media partners and stakeholders, had the chance to meet and exchange ideas for new projects and cooperation initiatives.Follow AER!

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