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The Trade and Industry Department (TID) today (April 17) hosted the 2007-08 SME Mentorship Programme cocktail reception to mark the end of the programme. At the reception, the Director-General of Trade and Industry, Mr Joseph Lai, expressed his gratitude for the wholehearted support and dedication of the programme co-organisers and mentors. SME participants also took the opportunity to share their experiences and appreciation.
Mr Lai said the SME Mentorship Programme had come to its fifth round since its launch in 2000. With the support of distinguished industrial and trade organisations, professional and academic bodies, the SME Mentorship Programme had matched each participant with a suitable mentor. The number of programme co-organisers had increased from nine in 2000 to the present 51. Over the years, the number of mentors had exceeded 350, benefitting 710 participants. These figures have demonstrated the popularity of the programme.
Mr Lai said that SMEs, due to their scale of operation, may face more challenges in financing, staff training and developing new markets. Business start-ups may also encounter a lot of difficulties. Under the SME Mentorship Programme, accomplished entrepreneurs, professionals and academics may render advice to these new SME entrepreneurs, helping them lay a good foundation and develop their business.
The SME Mentorship Programme aimed to provide SME entrepreneurs with the opportunity to learn from and be guided by mentors with rich experience in business operations through one-on-one free counselling. Apart from learning from their mentors, the Support and Consultation Centre for SMEs (SUCCESS) of TID also organised tailor-made activities for the participants and encouraged them to participate in other SUCCESS seminars and workshops.
SME entrepreneurs of locally registered companies which employ fewer than 20 employees and have been established for less than five years are eligible for participating in the SME Mentorship Programme. TID will announce details of the next round of SME Mentorship Programme soon.
Ends/Thursday, April 17, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:51
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