Events

On May 26^th 2022, the second project meeting took place between the partners of the project “REMICRO LOCAL”. The project meeting which took place in Smolyan was organized by Rhodopes Regional Tourism Association and was attended by representatives of all project partners.

During the meeting, partners discussed about the current progress of the project and achieved milestones. In particular, partners mentioned their achieved outputs in regards with the initial timetable. Partners also discussed about delays in project implementation and next steps to be taken in order to resolve possible difficulties and continue to the finalization of project deliverables on a prompt and efficient basis.

Remicro LOCAL Workshops within Digital Marketing Week marked an exceptional success with a large participation of entrepreneurs, executives, and representatives of organizations.

The workshops took place at the premises of Thessaloniki Innovation Zone, May 9 and 11, where two subjects were developed, “The Digital Marketing Strategy” and “The tools of digital marketing 360o”, respectively.

Participants had the opportunity to get acquainted with the new digital communication and promotion strategies, to understand the basic concepts of Digital Marketing, as well as to get acquainted with the most popular tools on the internet. Our guest speaker Mr. George Petkakis, Business Consultant by polisis.gr and author of the book “The Battle for the Digital Market“, through tangible examples, developed issues regarding digital marketing strategy, “mapped” the digital consumer (Know Your Digital Customer), highlighted the importance of Content Marketing, presented and compared tactics between digital and traditional marketing, analyzed digital promotion tools, and finally talked about the demanding world of e-commerce and the key points for efficient sales of online stores (e-shops).

The interest of the participants who attended the Remicro LOCAL Workshops during the “week” for sustainable micro-entrepreneurship was particularly overwhelming.

The workshops took place at the premises of Thessaloniki Innovation Zone, May 23 and 25, where two subjects were developed, “The role of innovation in the sustainability of small businesses” and “The role of small businesses in achieving Sustainable Development Goals – SDGs”, respectively .

Participants had the opportunity to approach “innovation” and focus on ways this can be integrated into small businesses, most of which have limited resources, as well as to understand that entrepreneurship and innovation are an effective combination for small businesses to respond, not only to crisis, but also to the competition that derives from globalization .

More than 90% of companies in Europe are very small but in order to become viable they need to take risks, to innovate, and create their social footprint, based on their “personal” narrative.  According to the guest speaker Mr. Stamatis Kousvelaris, Managing Director of Hellenic Outdoor & Adventure Coaching, micro-entrepreneurs will be able to achieve that, provided that they will have conducted a SWOT analysis for themselves and their own business, highlighting the strong and weak elements, as well as any opportunities and prospects for development.

The first three workshops that were held in the cities of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace during April of 2022, had a very positive impact!

More precisely, over the workshop that was held on April 6th, 2022, in Kavala city, with the title “Developing Business Skills”, Mrs. Margarita Fydanaki, Head of Remicro LOCAL Info Point, welcomed the participants and the guest speaker, Mr. Therapon Fakas,  Trainer and Business Coach of “Coach the Day“.

Through an experiential approach, Mr. Fakas highlighted the resources and skills that one needs in the world of “business”. He stressed the value of cooperation, not only in terms of the external environment of a company, mainly in terms of adopting a human-centered culture within a company.  He even urged the participants to work with a “freelancer” mindset, whether employed as an employee of a particular company, or being the owner of a business, in order to meet the challenges posed by the rapid development of technology and globalization.

On the same day, April 6th, another one Remicro LOCAL Workshop was held in Komotini and was hosted by the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Rodopi . The President of the Chamber, Mr. Nikos Aggelidis, honored the workshop “Sales Promotion Techniques” by being actively present. In fact, he addressed a message to the participants, highlighting the importance for the local entrepreneurs of joining such initiatives and taking advantage of contemporary tools offered to them, so as to further develop their competitiveness.

Mrs. Agni Pagouni, KEPA’s executive and Head of Business Development Services, presented to the participants the sales promotion tactics and explained how they interact with the long-term goals of a business strategy, while also the entrepreneurs had the opportunity to understand the terms “sales promotion” and “promotion mix”.

Additionally, on April 11th, another Remicro LOCAL Workshop focusing on the development of business skills, was implemented in Xanthi at the premises of enateam consulting firm.

The facilitator of this workshop, Mr. Therapon Fakas, showcased the resources and skills one needs in the world of entrepreneurship.  He stressed the value of cooperation, not only in terms of the external environment of a company, mainly in terms of adopting a human-centered culture within a company.  He even urged the participants to work with a “freelancer” mindset, whether employed as an employee of a particular company, or being the owner of a business, in order to meet the challenges posed by the rapid development of technology and globalization.  Finally, Mrs. Margarita Fydanaki, Head of Remicro LOCAL Info Point, expressed her gratitude, on behalf of KEPA, to the participants, the facilitator and the external partners that hosted this event.

Local authorities and organizations, businessmen and media representatives from the wider area of ​​Kavala city, offered a warm welcome to KEPA during the inaugural event of the REMICRO LOCAL project, which took place on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at the premises of the new business info point, that is located in the Municipal Market of Kavala.

Welcome remarks were addressed by the Vice Governor for the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Mr. Alexios Politis, the Vice Mayor of the Municipality of Kavala, Mr. Yannis Promousas, and the Executive Member of the Commercial Chamber of Kavala, Mr. Lefteris Koukoutinis.

Mr. Neoklis Stamkos, KEPA’s CFO and Project Manager of the Remicro LOCAL project, presented the “identity” and the achievements of KEPA so far, while a detailed presentation of the project was made by Mrs. Margarita Fidanaki, Head of Remicro LOCAL Info Point in Kavala. Specifically, she referred to the objectives and expected results of the Remicro LOCAL project, which is implemented under the Cooperation Program “Greece-Bulgaria 2014-2020”, in the effort of KEPA to strengthen local entrepreneurship in the Region of Eastern Macedonia Thrace.

In this direction, KEPA created two Business Info Points in Kavala and Komotini, providing free of charge services to any entrepreneur being interested either in participating in the e-matching platform (which provides the liaison/connection between the businessmen of the cross-border area), or the provision of consulting support and mentoring sessions, or even joining workshops (which aim to developing business and soft skills) for micro and small businesses and startups.

Finally, Mr. Therapon Fakas, Trainer and Business Coach – external partner of KEPA regarding coaching issues – presented the agenda with the upcoming workshops for the city of Kavala, that focus on the development of professional, soft, and green business skills.

Agenda
30/03/2022  “Sales Promotion Techniques”
06/04/2022  “Developing business Skills”
13/04/2022  “2nd Chance for Enterprises”
18/05/2022  “Developing Soft Skills”
25/05/2022  “Developing Green Business Skills”

The presentations and speeches of the event are available on the youtube channel of the project.

For more information about the project and the workshops, you may contact Mrs. Margarita Fydanaki, Tel.: 2510 22 6943, email: fydanakim@e-kepa.gr

The official opening of the project took place on October 14 2021 in Smolyan and particularly at the building of the Regional Governor Office Smolyan,  by the Rhodope Regional Tourist Association . The event was split into two sessions separating the participants into two groups in order to respect Covid health restrictions and keep the necessary distance measures. The first session was held at 12.30 am while the second was held at at 9.30 am.

The event brought together many representatives of companies from the region, training organizations and administration, who started the debate on the needs of local business – recruitment and retention, online sales skills, technical support for the website and other digital tools, classic and digital marketing and others. 

 Rhodope Regional Tourist Association presented the project to the participants paying particular attention to the provision of entrepreneurs with the necessary skills in order for them to create and develop their business, to innovate, to take advantage of microcredit, and also to exchange ideas and knowledge. RTAR also stressed that it addresses its services to micro and small business owners, as well as to start-ups, social entrepreneurs and those who expect a second chance in business. 

RTAR presented its forthcoming activities such as mentoring and individual consultations, trainings, information about funding opportunities. At the same, partners’ representatives mentioned that they expect local entrepreneurs to state what support they need in order to create the services that work best for them, improve the business climate in the region, and retain young people.