As a way of transforming the business sector in the country so as to improve on the country’s economic growth, PUM that is described as Programme Management and Sending out, together with SLIEPA, yesterday launched the Entrepreneur for Entrepreneurs program at the KUKUs Nest in Bamoi Hotel, Aberdeen.
The program attracted business stakeholders at all levels throughout the country, as it was an interactive forum where business people were given the opportunity to share their various experiences after patiently listening to the presentation made by Mr. Rene Meulensteen, the country co-coordinator for Gambia and Senegal.
In his presentation, Mr. Rene disclosed that for over thirty years PUM’s mission has remained the same as in “Entrepreneur for Entrepreneurs” invest in people’s future around the world as they help Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) with practical advice as SME’s are essential in economic development and poverty reduction, adding that SME’s create the largest amount of sustainable jobs.
He maintained that PUM consist of mainly Dutch volunteers that have recently retired or sold their companies and are now prepared to share their experience and knowledge with fellow entrepreneurs in emerging markets or developing countries. He added that these volunteers consist of entrepreneurs, managers and specialist that are keen to help shape the business of others and they are 3,750 (three thousand seventy hundred and fifty) in total.
According to Mr. Rene, PUM have 3,200 experts who have a thorough knowledge of their own area of expertise, combined with extensive business experience in the areas of Agriculture and Horticulture, Building and Construction, Business support and Management, Chemical and Synthetic Materials, Food and Beverage production, Transport and Logistics, Healthcare, Publishing and Printing, Energy and Water and Environment, Tourism and Hotel and Catering, Textile and Leather among others.
He encouraged business people who want to improve on their ideas and also those who want to start their own business to send their application to the local representatives who will make the necessary arrangements for the expert who will assist in a specific area, adding that PUM provides help in the form of short term project and that they do not give money but provide concrete solutions.
“As a follow up of the first project, PUM often offers customers a business link program. We invite all local businesses to visit Dutch companies to buy second hand machines or to initiate export to Netherlands,” he said.
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