UTSA STAFF DELIVER TRAINING ON DEVELOPING US MODELED SBDCS IN PANAMA
San Antonio (December 03, 2012) – The International Trade Center at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Institute of Economic Development announced today that it will complete its four-part Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Counselor and Director Certificate Training in Panama City, Panama. The program will help Panama establish SBDCs throughout the country to support Panamanian business owners and entrepreneurs.
SBDCs, established throughout the US by the federal government in partnership with state governments and universities and colleges, assist entrepreneurs and business owners in establishing and growing their businesses through a free and confidential suite of advising services. Services include, but not limited to, feasibility studies, business strategy, financial planning, marketing, production and professional networking. The Centers support new and existing businesses.
Through the SBDC Counselor and Director Certificate Training participants have learned about the US SBDC model and methodology. Individual training modules focused on SBDC business advising best practices, the role of specialty SBDCs (like those focused on international trade), as well as real-world and practical development of an operational plan to guide future counselors and directors on how to manage an office, personnel and funding. This training is part of the International Trade Center and Institute for Economic Development’s International SBDC Expansion Initiative that, with the support of the US Department of State, has been helping countries develop U.S. modeled SBDC networks since 2003.
UTSA Associate Vice President of Economic Development Robert McKinley, and International Trade Center International Business Consultant Minerva Garcia will complete UTSA’s Counselor and Director Certificate Training. The last module runs Dec. 12–13.
“It has been an excellent opportunity to gain knowledge and skills for conducting long-term counseling that will benefit the micro and small enterprises in Panama. The SBDC program will strengthen the public/private/academic alliance in our country and region, and will enable us to reach thousands of business people to maximize economic impact for their companies,” said Armando Espino, Consultant for the AMPYME (Autoridad de la Micro, Pequeña y Mediana Empresa), the department of the Panamanian government responsible for development of micro, small and medium size businesses.
The International Trade Center at UTSA is one of the largest and most successful trade assistance organizations in Texas. It helps companies become globally competitive through technical trade consulting, customized market research and innovative training programs. The center is a specialty SBDC program in the South-West Texas Border SBDC Network. Follow them on Twitter (@TexasTrade) and like them on Facebook (Facebook.com/texastrade).
For more information on the project, visit http://www.sbdcglobal.com/index.php/us/international-sbdc.html.
