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ACHIEVEMENTS
Innovative solutions to the most demanding tasks... 
The World Bank - Mozambique Investor Road Map - 1996
In response to the strong interest of developing member countries in attracting foreign direct investment, IFC created the Foreign Investment Advisory Service (FIAS) in 1986. FIAS (now merged into the World Bank Group Private Sector Advisory Services – PSAS) was a joint venture of IFC and IBRD. This investment advice is given only at client government request. The services, now provided by PSAS, are not tied to a World Bank Group loan, credit, or investment. The primary objective of FIAS was to help governments fill long-term development needs by getting the greatest possible benefit from foreign investment including also technology and managerial expertise. FIAS advised governments on the policies, laws, regulations, programs, and procedures needed to create an attractive investment climate and to increase inflows of productive foreign direct investment (FDI). FIAS also helped governments build effective institutions to interact with investors and promote investment.
CC, working with a team assembled by FIAS, which was funded through the Italian Trust Fund of the World Bank, was the co-author of the Mozambique Road Map, a strategic document that helped the Government of Mozambique to identify bottlenecks that were harming foreign investment flows to the country. CC also presented the findings before an audience of more than 250 attendants, including Government Ministers, businessmen, donors and academicians.
European Commission - Namibia Investment Center - Transitional Trade and Investment Development Program (TTIDP – 1997)
Historically Namibia’s trade focused on South Africa and for certain exports Europe. Since the early 1990s, the Government of Namibia embarked upon various programmes to promote export diversification and attract foreign investment, with a strong industrial development orientation. The country established Export Processing Zones, supported the development of Industrial Parks and adopted policies to support indigenous small businesses. A Transitional Trade and Investment Development Program (TTIDP) was launched in February 1997 with financial assistance from the European Union (EU). This program aimed at building capacity and strengthening the institutional framework of the Ministry of Trade and Industry with special reference to the Investment Centre and the International Trade Directorate. The Investment Centre (IC) functions as a one-stop-shop for foreign investors and deals also with all immigration procedures related to foreign investment.
CC was appointed in 1997 by TTIDP as the principal advisor to the IC, to lead a team of experts who assisted local staff on matters related to investor services, industrial sectors profiling and business tracking systems databases. The core activity was to accomplish World Bank recommendations aimed at removing administrative barriers to investment and transforming government agencies into true service-oriented entities. This included re-examination of goals of agencies, services provided, and organization of work.
USAID - Southern Africa Enterprise Development Fund (SAEDF) – 1998-2001
SAEDF is a US$100 million fund, supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). It invests in SMEs in South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its portfolio and potential clients are businesses that have up to 150 employees with financing needs from US$250,000 to US$5 million. Eligibility is limited to entrepreneurs who previously lacked access to equity financing, especially long-term risk capital for business expansion.
CC, working with a team assembled by the USAID contractor Financial Markets International, Inc. (FMI), performed a review of SAEDF operational practices and reported on the impact the Fund had had on the business and finance communities of the region. The FMI team recommended improvements of SAEDF operational practices that would assist the Fund in encouraging and facilitating private investment.
UNIDO - Tanzania SME Development Strategy – 1999
UNIDO launched in 1999 the “Integrated Program for Tanzania’s Industrial Development”. It was in essence a capacity building program to enhance industrial competitiveness. The program aimed to provide support to the Government and private sector for the implementation of sustainable industrial development; create an enabling environment for private sector-led industrialization; to increase productivity and competitiveness in agro-industries; and promote cleaner production and sound environmental management.
CC, on behalf of UNIDO, conducted analytical work on the SME sector and reviewed industrial policy on labor, property acquisition, trade, taxes and tariffs, consumer protection, credit and equity. He recommended measures to establish innovative financial mechanisms to ease SME access to long-term finance and credit guarantees.
The World Bank – Mongolia Economic Transition Support Project - 1992
In 1990, Mongolia initiated a peaceful transition to democracy and a market economy, in the face of an economic collapse precipitated by the abrupt withdrawal of Soviet assistance (equivalent to about 30% of GDP) and the demise of the CMEA trading system. During the 1990s, Mongolia has made impressive strides on both fronts. The process of privatization and economic liberalization, further accelerated Mongolia transition to a market-oriented economy. The World Bank assisted this process from the very beginning, contributing US$20M between 1993 and 1996 in the form of a rehabilitation loan.
CC backed World Bank management, during the preparatory phase of the Economic Transition Support Project, the first comprehensive intervention by the World Bank in Mongolia. The work performed involved the first assessment of the incipient private sector after the collapse of communism. This review paved the way for expanding the outreach of a Rehabilitation Credit, which had been approved by the Bank Board for Mongolia in 1991. The core of the assessment focused on public policies affecting private sector development; institutional and infrastructure requirements for private sector development, particularly SMEs; and an indicative look at sectors with potential comparative advantages. Special attention was devoted to the financial sector and the function of the then recently liberated foreign exchange market.
European Commission – Syrian European Business Center – 2002
The private sector in Syria is still weak and fragmented and is unable, presently, to take Syria into the global economy. Among the factors affecting private sector performance are the shortage of business advisory services, and the non-conducive regulatory and institutional environment, which still holds elements of the central planning system. The Syrian private sector is also deprived from effective business associations, including the Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The Syrian European Business Center (SEBC), a project funded by the EC is supporting the upgrade of Syria’s private sector and enhancing its competitiveness in the context of the expected entry of Syria into the Euro-Mediterranean partnership scheme. The specific objectives of SEBC involve improving the performance of local businesses, developing EU-Syrian business co-operation, assisting the development of Syrian capacities in consulting and advisory services, and supporting improvement of the business enabling-environment for local private enterprises.
CC, in cooperation with WM-Enterprise/Global Partners (UK), conducted the mid-term evaluation of SEBC – Phase II. The total cost of the program is €12M.. amount entirely contributed by the EC. However, the program is deemed to develop its own resources and move towards cost recovery, through a cost-sharing scheme that initially foresees a substantial subsidy on the services provided to beneficiary companies. The evaluation undertook a critical review of the program, including its design and structure, and made recommendations about the impact achieved so far on the targeted beneficiaries; the pricing strategy for the different services delivered by SEBC to private enterprises and institutions; and the coordination between SEBC and other donor-funded program oriented to private sector development.
UK Department for International Development (DFID) – MEDA Private Sector Development: Methodology for the Creation of New Approaches and Instruments – 2004
DFID and the European Commission (EC) have agreed to work closely together through the progressive establishment of the EU-MED Free Trade Area (FTA) by 2010, and through financial support for economic transition and for the social and economic consequences of this reform process (the MEDA program). DFID and the EC launched in 2004 a series of joint studies in order to deepen the EC’s understanding of, and capacity to support, the components of economic reform, broad based growth and private sector development in the Southern Mediterranean area. The purpose of this first study was to provide the EC with a set of policy options for a revised approach and strategy in support of PSD in the Mediterranean region. The research paper suggested a framework of activities based on the EC’s tools for supporting PSD – including the MEDA program, coordination with the European Investment Bank/Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP), and political and economic dialogue with Southern Mediterranean partners. The review proposed new instruments for PSD, based on experiences in other regions or of other donors, which focus on the creation of enabling environments to sustain livelihoods improvement for all social groups, including the poorest and most marginalized, and irrespective of gender. The consultancy was be contracted by DFID, although the primary beneficiary was the EC.
CC, worked as an Enterplan Limited, UK, (http://www.enterplan.co.uk), team member, coordinating field work in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Syrian Arab Republic and Lebanon. CC also worked in close cooperation with Enterplan’s managing director to draft the final report and recommendations of the project. Among others, the conclusions of the study contributed to devise programs that emphasize the more effective functioning of open markets and demand-driven responses from local actors to the achievement of the agreed development benchmarks. The analysis also focused on ensuring explicit and time-bound exit strategies for EC assistance programs.
European Commission - Slovenia Private Sector Development – 1994/1995
In 1994, the EC launched the program “Support to Aid Management in Slovenia”, devised to enforce management of foreign aid to the country in general, and of assistance provided by the Commission of the European Union (PHARE) in particular. The long-term objective was to strengthen the implementation capacity with the final beneficiaries in order to allow a Decentralized Implementation System for PHARE. The EC appointed a team of European experts to manage the program. Much attention was given to improving and increasing the project management and monitoring capacity of the institutes involved. It was very important to stress the selection and training of local staff that had to take over the functions and tasks of the experts at the end of this technical assistance project. Moreover, institutional strengthening and restructuring, and the improvement of project management and monitoring were considered program’s very important priorities.
CC, subcontracted by Planet Consultants BV (http://www.planetconsultants.nl/), established a monitoring unit and supervised projects in the fields of industrial restructuring, privatization, foreign trade and investment, and SME development. Wrote terms of reference and selected international experts through tender procedures. Ensured that projects reached goals and provided ongoing support to implementing institutions. Furthermore, his role was instrumental to train local staff to ensure sustainability. As a side contribution, he assisted the formation of business ventures between Slovenian entrepreneurs and EU investors.
European Commission - Romania SME Development - 1993
In 1992, the Government of Romania created the Romanian Centre for SMEs (CRIMM), entrusting this institution as the focal point to promote the emerging private sector in the country. The European Commission supported this initiative with a three-year PHARE Program for SME Development. The project was largely based on a comprehensive proposal elaborated by the CNA-Veneto (the regional office of CNA, the most important SME association of Italy). Two aspects of the project were particularly relevant namely the set up of a national network of SME Development Centres (SMEDCs) for providing qualified and reliable business counseling services and the operation of an SME Grant Fund of about US$ 3M. The Fund assisted only the purchase of capital goods, up to 50% of their cost and co-financing from other sources and collaboration with the banking system was encouraged.
CC, subcontracted by CNA-Veneto (http://www.eurecna.it/), was the first Financial Advisor to CRIMM, having responsibility over an aid package of about US$ 13M. Wrote terms of reference and participated in the selection of international experts through tender procedures. He also monitored local-level initiatives, providing advice to Business Innovation Centers (BICs) and to pilot business consulting agencies. An important contribution was the coordination of activity with other donors. Furthermore, he contributed to the development of business ventures between Romanian entrepreneurs and foreign investors.
European Commission - Poland Local Development Funds - 1994
Poland was one of the first countries that opened-up the economy and started reform after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The European Commission supported Poland’s transition towards a market economy with the PHARE Program. Originally created to assist Poland and Hungary, PHARE encompasses today the 10 candidate countries of central and eastern Europe, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Romania helping them through a period of massive economic restructuring and political change. One of the most relevant PHARE interventions in Poland was the establishment of pilot Local Credit and Investment Funds. At the end of the year 2000, 17 local and regional loan guarantee funds were operating in Poland associated in the National Association of Guarantee Funds. These funds had at their disposal about € 9.6 million and granted 1,879 guarantees for a total amount of almost € 24 million during the period 1994–2000. The total value of loans and credits guaranteed during this period was over € 47.5 million. Guarantees are granted to SMEs as well as to unemployed individual entrepreneurs who are just starting business. The guarantees can be used for both bank credits as well as loans from the labor offices and other institutions financing business activities. The funds usually guarantee 60-70 % of the credit and each fund co-operates with a few selected banks and institutions. At present, numerous new credit guarantee funds are being created in various regions of the country and are in various stages of development. The main forces behind them are local and regional governments.
CC, was a key member of the CNA-Veneto (http://www.eurecna.it/) consulting team, which provided technical assistance to the Polish Cooperation Fund in 1994, within the aegis of the PHARE Local Initiatives Program. The team, who played a pioneer role in Poland, was instrumental to the start up of eight pilot Credit and Investment Funds, in eight different locations of Poland. They designed a flexible framework in order to enable each Fund to choose the model which fitted better the local needs and expectations. The Funds are now in full operation, and are basically involved in three types of financial activities – direct Lending, credit guarantees and Venture Capital. The CNA-Veneto team designed the operational scheme of the Funds, elaborated the business plans, prepared the contractual basis, verified the juridical framework for their operations, and negotiated working agreements with the banks. All the software and tool kits for mastering the Funds' operations and the credit applications were developed by CNA-Veneto experts and delivered to each Fund. Furthermore, a whole component of the project was dedicated to Fund officer’s training and another component was focused on a hands-on assistance to the Funds during their first months of operations.
The World Bank - Moldova E-Development Strategy - 2002
The World Bank is currently (2003) working on the Moldova e-Development Gateway project with the purpose of creating an enabling environment for e-development by mobilizing the efforts of government, private sector, international organizations and civil society. The long term objectives of the project are: (a) Enforce the transition process by conferring it more transparency (e.g. E-government) and speed; (b) Foster community expression; (c) Improve communication within various social and economic clusters/communities; (d) Promote e-business development; (e) Mobilize local content and build local capacity; (f) Optimize the effectiveness of the use of local resources to attain sustainable economic growth; (g) Contribute to increasing living standards and competitiveness; (h) Ensure sustainability of the e-Development Foundation, an independent body selected as the focal point of all initiatives in this area of concern.
CC was requested by World Bank staff in 2002 to provide inputs to the preliminary e-development assessment, specifically, to evaluate G2B capabilities in the Republic of Moldova. The assignment encompassed initial assessment about the possibilities and needs for introducing E-Government in Moldova. CC also assessed the use of E-Government in the context of Administrative reforms and management improvement in the public sector and its linkages with the private sector with a view of improving public services and reducing red tape in Moldova.
European Commission - Romania SME Development – 2004
In Romania the SME sector plays a significant role in the economy in terms of growth, competitiveness, technological improvement and employment. Romania is a candidate state to join the European Union in 2007 and the Government is actively engaged in the process of improving the business environment and the legal system to stimulate initiatives and investment. The Government of Romania has designated the National Agency for SMEs and Cooperatives (NASMEC) as its executive branch responsible for policy formulation and coordination of activities in support of SMEs and micro-enterprises. NASMEC has recently issued the SME Strategy for the period 2004-2008, which includes a coherent set of measures and activities aligned with the European Union guidelines and best practice in this field: creating a business environment supportive of SME development and growth; developing SME competitiveness; improving SME access to financing; improving SME export performance; and promoting an entrepreneurial culture and strengthening management performance.
CC on behalf of EURECNA CNA-Veneto International Services (http://www.eurecna.it), as the Team Leader of the European Commission PHARE Program, providing technical assistance to NASMEC with an aid package of about US$ 2.1M. The overall objective of the TA project was to assist the development and implementation of national policies and programs for the SME sector in line with the provisions of the National Development Plan (NDP) and of European Council Regulation 1266/99 on Extended Decentralized Implementation Systems (EDIS) in candidate countries. This project has been part of the more general assistance that the EC is granting to the Government of Romania in order to consolidate reform, speed up the European harmonization process in view of imminent accession, and promote effective and efficient use of Structural Funds. CC, over a period of one year, led a team of about 25 international and local experts, specialized in e-government and database development; policy formulation and program development; compliance with quality standards; and entrepreneurship promotion at the regional and local levels.
European Commission – Paraguay Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for the period 2007-2011 (2004/2005)
The European Union’s cooperation policy with regard to Latin America is based on Article 177 of the Treaty
establishing the European Community. It establishes that Community policy in the sphere of development
cooperation shall foster the sustainable economic and social development of the developing countries,
and more particularly the most disadvantaged among them, the smooth and gradual integration of the
developing countries into the world economy and the campaign against poverty in the developing countries.
It also contributes to the general objective of developing and consolidating democracy and the rule of law,
and to that of respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms.
CC was subcontracted by Schlumberger SEMA Belgium, a leading EC Framework Contract firm, to identify experts and field the CSP preparation country teams for Paraguay, Brazil and Honduras. In addition to managing the three subcontracts, the work entailed personal involvement as the Team Leader of a three-phase mission to Paraguay. Phase 1 involved the preliminary study (the review of the implementation of the current CSP/NIP, updating the national analysis and presentation of conclusions, review of donor coordination and the preparation of Phase 2 on consultations). Phases 2 and 3 supported the EC Country Team (RELEX Paraguay Desk and EC Delegation in Paraguay) in organizing consultation on a concept paper and on a draft CSP with key stakeholders in Paraguay.
European Commission - Monitoring System in Latin America – 2000/2001
In the year 2000, the European Commission contracted a consortium of consulting firms led by Danish Management (http://www.dem.dk/) to design and set up a monitoring system for the development aid funded by the EU. The objective of the assignment was to build on and test a monitoring system in the ALA/ACP/MEDA regions, encompassing more than 130 countries.
CC
was chosen to conduct a pilot mission in Latin America (March 2000) and then worked for two years with Danish Management
as one of the senior monitors who covered the ALA (Latin America) region. The work required a solid knowledge of the
Logical Framework methodology and experience with EC rules and procedures. The list of projects reviewed is as follows:
The World Bank - Argentina E-Government – 2002
In March 2002, the World Bank sent a field mission to Argentina, Chile and Uruguay to assess e-development in these countries, as a primary input to the “New Economy Sector Study in the Southern Cone”. This endeavor represented a joint effort by the FPSI and PREM departments of the LAC Region and the World Bank Institute. In Chile, the study focused on e-business and innovation, while in Argentina the emphasis was on e-government. In Uruguay, the World Bank experts reviewed general aspects such as e-learning and the digital divide. Subsequent to the mission, the experts and staff prepared working papers addressing individual aspects of the study. A Quality Enhancement Review (QER) panel then agreed on the priorities of the study and decided to concentrate ensuing desk-study efforts on specific issues that led to two separate pieces of work for Chile and Argentina.
CC prepared a background paper on electronic government in Argentina, which, at the moment of the QER, was evaluated as the most focused contribution to the overall project. Subsequent to the presentation of the background paper, the World Bank Institute completed the study including policy recommendations to the Government of Argentina. As a follow up to this study, the World Bank LAC-PREM department requested CC’s contribution to research on comparative experiences in online information disclosure and to present the findings before an international workshop where practitioners from Argentina, Canada, India, Korea, Malaysia and the U.S.A., and World Bank experts, shared their experiences on how ICT and E-Government can contribute to reducing corruption and increasing transparency in the public sector. CC’s work is online in the World Bank e-government website: http://www1.worldbank.org/publicsector/egov/Argentina%20Paper%20on%20E-Government.doc http://www1.worldbank.org/publicsector/egov/transparency.htm
The World Bank - Mexico E-Business for SME and Local Development - 2002/2003
The E-Business for Small Business Development Project in Mexico will build development services markets through an e-business benefits awareness program, and improve micro and small businesses (MSB) access to the information communications technology (ICT) infrastructure. The project has two components: 1) Build e-business development services markets for MSBs via (a) an e-business benefits awareness program, (b) an e-learning and innovation program providing demand-side matching grants for business development services (BDS) providing information, training, market access, and technology appropriate to MSB needs to adopt e-business solutions, (c) a supply-side business centers innovation pilot in ICT-based BDS, providing distance learning, new market access, management tools, and online trading to reduce transaction costs; and, (d) an E-BDS innovation pilot for the promotion of new employment of urban at-risk youth, through ICT-based training, and job placement. 2) Improve MSB access to ICT infrastructure, and new economy e-gov business services - technical assistance, hardware and software investments to (a) extend internet services to MSBs, and to reduce regulations, increase innovation and competitiveness, and, (b) to simplify institutional practices associated with business regulations involving registration, operating licenses, and inspections, labor and tax registration, and renewals via installation of best practices electronic government services. While the project will have a national geographic scope, implementation will begin in Mexico City, and the urban areas of the country's central region states, where the majority of urban poverty and a number of MSBs are found. Implementation capacity will then be expanded to other urban areas according to demand.
CC assisted World Bank management, during the preparatory phase. The work performed involved fieldwork in various Mexican cities and the supervision of the overall design and implementation of a pilot for Component 2 - Improve MSB access to ICT infrastructure, and new economy e-gov business services. The pilot took place in Monterrey and Zacatecas and was carried out by Deloitte Consulting Mexico (http://www.dc.com/) and Grupo Pissa (http://www.grupopissa.com/).
Inter-American Development Bank - Colombia SME Development and Investment Promotion - 2000
In 1996, the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) of the IADB approved a US$ 2.7m regional technical cooperation project
“University Outreach Program - Micro and Small Enterprises”. This program was aimed at improving Colombia and Ecuador's
small enterprises' access to technical assistance services as well as strengthening their competitiveness by means of an
efficient universal technical assistance system. The program intended to establish an institutional framework to provide
technical assistance to small businesses, make arrangements for production, develop strategies, prepare commercial plans
and exchange of technology, and establish information systems. The Catholic University of Ecuador and the the Javeriana
University in Colombia were selected to assist in this project. At the moment of starting-up, only the Colombian executing
agency was ready to implement the technical assistance hence transforming a regional program into an entirely Colombian
initiative.
CC conducted the mid-term review of Universidad Javeriana’s project, assessing sustainability and recommending the establishment of a revolving fund to finance future technical assistance projects. CC was also requested by the IADB to contribute to the project design in the COINVERTIR initiative and was the author of the first recommendations to staff that subsequently led to project approval.
Inter-American Development Bank - ICT Innovation Program for E-Business Development and Small and Medium-size Businesses (“ICT4BUS”)
Funded by the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), the ICT Innovation Program for E-Business Development and Small- and Medium-size Businesses (ICT4BUS) supports innovative ICT applications and services aimed at improving SME competitiveness through increased market penetration, workplace productivity and value chain integration. The program provides matching grants of up to 60 percent of the cost of a project, contributing a minimum of $75,000 and a maximum of $500,000 for each one. The projects are selected through a competitive process involving two stages of screening.
CC was a member of the team of experts who appraised over 30 projects previously chosen by the IADB to submit full project proposals and participate in the second stage of the competition. Within the first Call for Proposals, launched in October 2002, over 101 project profiles from non-profit organizations in 18 different countries were submitted to ICT4BUS.
Inter-American Development Bank - El Salvador ICT Cluster Strategy
Like most countries in the world today, El Salvador considers information technology as an area of great promise. But it also knows that for the potential to be accomplished, specific policies need to be put in place by the national government. With a grant from the Inter American Development Bank, El Salvador’s Ministry of Economy contracted Barquin International IDF Division to develop guidelines for a national IT strategy and also provide guidance on how to move El Salvador toward the possible exportation of IT products and/or services.
CC, in cooperation with Dr. Ramón Barquin, President of IDF-Barquin International, conducted a thorough research, developed baseline data and was the co-author of the Strategy Paper for the Development of the ICT Sector in El Salvador.
South North Development Initiative – Venture Capital Funds in Argentina and Colombia – 1998/1999
South North is a 501(c)-(3) nonprofit organization, based in New York City and has the primary scope of promoting local venture capital funds in developing countries. A successful team of venture capital practitioners actively contributes through the South North Venture Capital Advisory Committee. South North often works in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), is registered with USAID, and is a member of the Community Development Venture Capital Association. South North us funded by individuals, the private sector, foundations, and multilateral institutions. Contributors include the Oak Foundation, UNDP, Charles Butt, Peggy Dulany, Bill Hewlett, Institute for Civil Society, Merrill Lynch, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Mercedes de Noboa, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, BP Foundation, Chase Manhattan Foundation, the Draper Foundation, Augusto Edwards, the Rockefeller Foundation, Asia Foundation, Bankers Trust, Capital Group Companies, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Joyce Mertz Gilmore Foundation, J.P. Morgan Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, UNESCO, Shaler Adams Foundation, Arco Foundation, Banco Ciudad, CIDA, Ford Foundation, Grupo Esquel, Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation, A. Robert Towbin, Paul Tudor Jones, Joukowsky Foundation and Sally Timpson.
CC was asked over by the South North’s Board to drive, in 1998, the transformation of an NGO run by volunteers into a development-oriented enterprise, which was meant to adopt more efficient management techniques and expand its outreach. CC also directed two important projects aimed at establishing venture capital funds for SMEs in Argentina and in Colombia. The clients of these consultancies were the Banco de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires and the UNDP - Regional Office in Bogota.
SIDERCA S.A.I.C. (currently TENARIS – TECHINT GROUP) – Monitoring Expansion of a Steel Plant and conducting Institutional Relations – 1983/1989
The Techint Group, with headquarters in Italy and Argentina, comprises more than 100 companies operating worldwide with a workforce of experienced professionals and skilled workers numbering about 42,400 permanent employees, and with total sales of US$ 7.8 billion. Production of steel tubes is the single most important industrial activity of Techint. Operations date back to the 1950s, when Techint companies built and operated two seamless steel tube plants, in Argentina and Mexico. Tenaris groups together the seamless steel tube manufacturers Dalmine (Italy), Siderca (Argentina), Tamsa (Mexico), NKKTubes (Japan), AlgomaTubes (Canada), Tavsa (Venezuela), together with welded steel pipe makers Confab (Brazil) and Siat (Argentina). With a combined annual production capacity of over 3 million tons of seamless and 850 thousand tons of welded tubes, and 14,000 employees in five continents, Tenaris is a leading supplier of tubular goods and services to the global energy and mechanical industries and accounts for 13% of world production of seamless tubes. Tenaris sales in international markets account for around 20% of international trade in seamless tubes, and around 30% when considering OCTG (Oil Country Tubular Goods) products. The combined production of the two welded pipe manufacturers makes Tenaris the most important supplier of large diameter tubes for oil and gas pipelines in South America.
CC, after various years of work in development-oriented think-tanks in Italy, initiated his professional career as a Techint young professional in 1983. One of his most significant assignments was accomplished in Siderca SAIC, one of the world’s leading producers of seamless steel tubes and a leading supplier of tubular goods and services to the global energy industry. CC was a team member for monitoring a US$500M project, which, between 1983 and 1986 expanded the capacity of Siderca’s integrated production facilities located in Campana, 80 kilometres north of the city of Buenos Aires on the Parana River. Upon completion of his training as a young professional, he was appointed as Assistant to the Director of Institutional Relations of the Techint Group, with the responsibility of handling relations with business associations, media and the then emerging democratic institutions of Argentina.
CENTRO ESTERO CAMERE DI COMMERCIO LOMBARDE (LOMBARDY REGION – ITALY) – Establishing Representation in Argentina - 1989
Lombardy is the most important “Regione” (decentralized entity) in Italy and is considered as one of the “four engines” of Europe together with Baden-Wurttenberg (Germany), Cataluña (Spain) and Rhone-Alpes (France). Lombardy’s economy represents a fifth of the total Italian GDP. The Università Commerciale "Luigi Bocconi", established in 1902 in Milan, was the first Italian institution of higher education to grant a degree in economics. For years, Bocconi’s experts have been providing advice and supplying with qualified human resources eminent Italian and European institutions.
CC was contracted in 1989 by the Lombardy’s Chamber of Commerce Oversees Center to establish an antenna in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Professor Carlo Secchi, then an economic advisor of the Lombardy Region and currently the Rector of Bocconi University, has been always deeply involved with research and field work devoted to foster economic relations between the European Union and Latin America. Argentina was a key objective to expand European trade and investment, at the time that the country was consolidating its democratic institutions. CC assisted Professor Secchi and his Bocconi team of experts in a project, funded by the European Commission, which aimed at raising awareness about the benefits of adopting the European Currency Unit (ECU, predecessor of the Euro) for trade between Europe and Latin America. He handled the Argentine chapter of the project, in cooperation with the Lombardy’s antenna staff and Bocconi’s experts. Another important assignment was to facilitate contacts between Italian SME entrepreneurs and potential Argentine partners.
Inter-American Development Bank – Plan Puebla Panama Joint Venture Facility - 2003
The promotion of regional integration is one of the founding mandates of the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), together with the economic and social development of Latin America and the Caribbean. The Plan Puebla-Panama (PPP), an IADB-sponsored initiative, aims to accelerate their integration and promote social and economic development in Central America and the southern states of Mexico through the encouragement of private sector participation. During the recent years, Mexican large business investment reached countries in Central America in the industry of telecommunications, construction, and food and beverage, yet small businesses in the region have not exploited their development potential due to lags in promoting technology and limited management skills. The establishment of business cooperation links with small and medium-sized enterprises particularly through joint ventures will facilitate the transfer of technology and expertise to production systems in countries in the region. By participating in joint venture, companies in less developed countries will be able to engage in the internationalization of business based on acquired technology and managerial know-how to further advance business practices required in today's globalized economy. The IADB’s Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) has devised a project to strengthen the partnership between regional and local national development institutions, establishing instruments intended to lower risk and barriers to investments in small and medium-size enterprises, while providing financial resources to promote the internationalization of the local productive systems.
CC, team-worked with ABT Associates, conducting a demand study for the PPP Joint Venture Fund and assessing the capacity existing in the region to manage the proposed fund. It was found that there is potential to develop an interesting deal flow in Central America and southern Mexico although most projects are at a very early stage and have to be worked out. The type of companies to be targeted by the fund does exist and many of them could use venture capital as a vehicle for expanding production, incorporating technology or developing other markets. A good number of experienced fund managers were interviewed as potential candidates to manage the proposed PPP fund.
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