KOBI Center offering range of technical assistance
Turkish Cypriot businesses are preparing themselves for competition and hoped-for inclusion in the EU market in ways that would not have been possible five years ago, thanks in large part to USAID assistance via the KOBI Center, which was inaugurated on March 8 this year.
Technical assistance on everything from HACCP certification to how to market a product successfully is being offered to interested businesses, which can benefit from an 85% subsidy for training and assistance.
As Greek Cypriot businesses found in the run-up to EU membership, HACCP certification is one of the most difficult and costly international standards to meet.
In an interview with the Financial Mirror, Cem Ciçek, Public Information and Communications Officer at the KOBI Center, said “The basic aim is to make Turkish Cypriot companies more competitive and to prepare them for international standards.”
While this might sound like an obvious aim for any company, other commentators have noted that many Turkish Cypriot companies have not experienced operating in a truly competitive market before, owing to a combination of barriers such as politically motivated subsidies, licences and credit, as well as restricted access to international markets.
“We are also trying to find a market place in the south of the island,” said Ciçek.
Officially recorded trade across the Green Line has reached only some CYP 1.5 mln since it started in August 2004, although total trade including unrecorded shipments is estimated to amount to CYP 3-4 mln.
The KOBI Center has therefore interviewed companies on both sides of the Green Line to see how trade can be utilised and expanded.
A Constraints Report, which defines all of the constraints on Green line trade and recommendations, has been finalised and discussion with the related Chambers from both sides has been initiated.
Senior Consultant at KOBI, Ayse Dönmezer, said companies qualifying for technical assistance “must be willing to work with a market-oriented approach to exports”. Companies are scored according to strict criteria before qualifying. Assistance takes the form of both sector-level assistance and company-level assistance.
About the KOBI Center
The KOBI Center is part of EDGE project (Economic Development and Growth for Enterprise), which aims “at increasing the competitiveness of Turkish Cypriot businesses leading to increases in international and intra-island trade.”
EDGE is implemented by the world renowned US consultancy, BearingPoint Inc..
Businesses can therefore take advantage of expertise in areas such as strategy, marketing, branding, international certification and new market prospecting trips.
In addition to providing firm level assistance, the KOBI Center is working closely with business leaders, decision makers, stakeholders, associations and chambers to support the needs of all businesses at the sector and sub-sector level.
The KOBI Center is divided into four teams: Tourism and Services; Agriculture; Manufacturing and Micro Enterprises.
Each team is led by a senior consultant with significant technical expertise in their respective fields, and complemented by a team of consultants.
In addition to providing firm level and sector level technical assistance, Ciçek says the KOBI Center will continue to sponsor in-depth research into the challenges and opportunities facing Turkish Cypriot businesses; public presentations by subject matter experts on important and relevant issues to the Turkish Cypriot business community; organising private-public dialogues; and sponsoring participation in international trade fairs, new market prospecting trips, and more.
The KOBI Center has been holding seminars which will continue over the coming months on a variety of topics including virtual trade, how to prepare for international trade fairs, branding and marketing.
Fiona Mullen
