START EXPORTING PROGRAM

START EXPORTING PROGRAMTURKEY’S FIRST AND UNIQUE SME’S

CONSULTANCY PROGRAM FOR INTERNATONALIZATION

S E PS E P

WHAT IS SEP ?

Start Exporting Program; In-depth SMEs consultancy program A to Z international marketing and sales Unlock international potential Support SMEs become regular exporters Broaden SMEs horizons

WHAT IS SEP ?

“Give a man fish and you feed him for a day.

Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

Chinese Proverb

WHAT IS SEP ?

Turkey’s first and unique SME’s consultancy program for internationalization

SEP is fully funded by Istanbul Chamber of Commerce

SEP is a free of charge program for companies

WHY SEP ?

99% of Turkish companies are SMEs

Lack of initiatives and resources in international activities.

Lack of internationalization vision of SMEs

HOW SEP STARTED ?

Everything started in 2005 ICOC partnered with Madrid CCI within the

framework of the Turkish Chambers Development Program (TCDP) organized by Eurochambres and TOBB

Using Madrid CCI’s SMEs development program as a starting point, ICOC created an innovative program designed for Turkish SMEs

SEPSEP is entirely is entirely a Project of a Project of IInternationalizationnternationalization

STEPS OF SEP

STEP-1 Selection & Diagnosis of

SEP companies

STEP-2 Implementation

4-month One-On-One Onsite Consultancy

STEP-3Complementary

Services

STEP-41 Year follow-up and

on-going support

HOW SEP WORKS ?STEP – 1 : SELECTION & DIAGNOSIS OF SEP COMPANIES

Selection SEP is open to companies from all sectors The most important criteria is to be a

manufacturer SME

Diagnosis In depth diagnosis from SEP consultants

and ICOC Companies fulfilling the criteria become

SEP companies

HOW SEP WORKS ?STEP – 2: IMPLEMENTATION

Onsite one-on-one consultancy A to Z international marketing and sales Wide range of intensive consultancy content:

from target market selection to export strategy & action planfrom preparation to trade fairs to development of marketing tools

HOW SEP WORKS ?STEP – 3: COMPLEMENTARY SERVICES

BESIDES CONSULTANCY SERVICES, SEP COMPANIES ENJOY A WIDE RANGE OF PRIORITY SERVICES:

Training programs in international trade regulations Special financial opportunities from major Turkish banks

Free enrollment in international trade certificate programs at Istanbul Commerce University

Involvement of International Trade Faculty students as interns in SEP companies

Supporting the participation in international trade fairs

HOW SEP WORKS ?STEP – 4: FOLLOW UP

Consultant feedback & re-evaluation

SEP companies feedback & evaluation

ICOC self-evaluation & analysis

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT & SUSTAINABILITY of

SEP

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ACHIEVEMENTSOUTCOMES

OUT OF ALL COMPANIES PARTICIPATEDIN SEP THUS FAR;

75% improved quality or expanded their product range

65% exhibited at national or international trade fairs

70% of SEP companies began exporting regularly to markets around the world

ACHIEVEMENT - IIEXPANSION OF SEP

Success of SEP in Istanbul have led ICOC to organize SME internalization know-how transfer program across Turkey

Thus far, 15 chambers from cities throughout Turkey have participated in training programs of ICOC

Following the trainings ICOC gives full support to those chambers in order to customize “Start Exporting Program” in their own regions.

ACHIEVEMENT - IIIINTERNATIONALIZATION OF SEP

In every phase ICOC added new values to the program and customized it further to SME’s needs.

As a result, now SEP is fully integrated system that enable companies to become exporters

ICOC believes that, not only Turkish SMEs but all SMEs around the world should benefit from SEP

At the beginning SEP was just an idea of guidance

Now, ICOC and SEP is ready to share their Now, ICOC and SEP is ready to share their experiences with the whole worldexperiences with the whole world

FINALIST IN THE 6th WORLD CHAMBERS COMPETITION