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October 1, 2007

Conference to Promote the Creation of New Businesses in the Dominican Republic

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On September 25, 2007, Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE) and the Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) organized the conference “Taking Your Small or Medium Sized Business to the Next Level.”  The program took place at UNIBE and featured presenters Charlie Poticher of Millersville University (Pennsylvania) and International Development Specialist, Eric Miller.

The conference sought to increase the number of businesses and organizations affiliated with InteRDom, create opportunities for professional exchange and develop strategic alliances with organizations that work to create new business opportunities throughout the Dominican Republic such as: Emprende, Codopyme, PROINCUBE, Asociación Dominicana de Industrias Graficas y Afines, Centro de Exportación e Inversión de la República Dominicana (CEI-RD), Cámara de Comercio y Producción de Santo Domingo (CCPSD) and Centro Nacional Para Competividad (CNC).

The program was sponsored by GFDD and FUNGLODE’s internship and academic study program, InteRDom, and marked the close of a series of events for students and business professionals that took place at UNIBE and FUNGLODE Headquarters, September 25-26. Central topics of these events included entrepreneurialism and the generation of employment opportunities.

During the conference, NGO and business representatives learned how their organizations and businesses could profit from providing internship opportunities to InteRDom interns. Additionally, InteRDom offered to help internationalize products and services generated by new Dominican businesses.

The event also included a presentation on the University’s Centro de Desarrollo Empresarial (Center for Entrepreneurial Development – CIDE). CIDE Director, Rosanna Saladín, ascertained that the Center supports students by facilitating market-centered research and identifying new business opportunities in the country and through providing consultations and services.

Professor Poticher stressed that nations need to work arduously to increase entrepreneurial activity and minimize dependence on governments to stimulate economic prosperity. He also congratulated UNIBE for creating CIDE and encouraged other Dominican universities to take similar steps and to increase their enrollment of students interested in entrepreneurialism.

The conference included a question and answer session, during which participants had the opportunity to consult with professionals about how they could transform their business and organization needs into entrepreneurial opportunities.

Approximately 200 students participated in the conference.

Charlie Poticher, is a Professor at Millersville University in Pennsylvania. He has 30 years of experience in higher education and has taught at four universities in the United States. He also has extensive experience developing and managing companies.

Eric Miller, Founder and Owner of Romero & Miller LLC (an importer of Spanish wines), has an MBA in International Business from Foro Europeo in Pamplona, Spain. Prior to continuing his studies in the United States he spent two years working at Casa de Campo in La Romana, Dominican Republic.

Both professionals work for Empowered People United (EPU), an organization that seeks to help small and medium-sized businesses and organizations achieve economic success by providing assistance in concept development.

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