BEDIA COURTS SENIOR EXPERTEN SERVICES (SES) FOR ITS EDP

The Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority (BEDIA) has engaged the services of Senior Experten Service (SES) from Germany to assist with the training of local manufacturing companies under BEDIA's Export Development Programme. The Export Development Programe is a project by BEDIA designed to assist in developing international market entry strategies that identify the objectives, resources or policies that will in turn assist participating companies develop their sustainable international business focus. This is a phased programme designed to help companies in the evaluation and development of a profitable export strategy. Hence the programme assumes a "baby step" approach through the development process from initial market evaluation to a fully functioning export strategy.
 
SES is the Foundation of German Industry for International Cooperation. It is a non-profit organization established by four important associations: the Federal Confederation of German Employers' Associations (BDA), the Federal Association of German Industry (BDI), the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) and the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH).
 
SES offers interested retirees the opportunity to pass on their skills and knowledge to others, both within Germany and abroad. They work in a voluntary capacity as Senior Experts, helping to train both specialist workers and management staff. They help others to help themselves, an important contribution towards safeguarding asmall slice of the future. It is a system that benefits all parties.
 
Senior Experts generally work in small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as with providers of vocational training and health care services, but it is also employed by such organizations and institutions as the German Agency for Technical Cooperation- GTZ). The duration of these honorary assignments ranges usually from three to six weeks with a maximum duration of six months. A Senior Expert can be requested for follow-up assignments to ensure the sustainability of his or her work.
 
More than 8,800 Senior Experts, both men and women, drawn from the active retired community, are entirely voluntary and help others to help themselves. Whether in small to medium-sized industrial or skilled trades and crafts enterprises, in large organizations or in local authorities, they offer help and advice using their specialist knowledge of over 50 different sectors.
As a first in Botswana SES is expected to assist with addressing identified gaps and to provide training to narrow disparities, as well as advise on solving technical and organizational problems outlined through Company requests in the fields of Leather and Leather products; Meat and Meat Products; Chemicals and Furniture. Some of these sectors are of primary, but not exclusive focus and are in line with the implementation of the National Export Strategy.
 
As per the Company needs, SES forwarded the Curriculum Vitae (CV) of Mr. Reinhackel who is an expert in the leather sector which was found to be in conformity with Company needs. Mr. Reinhackel will be in Botswana for three months, starting January 17, 2011, to March 17, 2011, to conduct training at Leather Products Botswana in Pilane and Kings Leather Works in Letlhakane respectively, working alongside BEDIA's Department of Export Enterprise Development.
 
The expert has amassed a lot of knowledge in the leather industry, dating back to 1955 when he was still an apprentice as a technical shoemaker; and his experience grew with him. He served in Brazil and India. In 2009, Mr. Reinhackel conducted a successful SES-assignment in Pakistan on the development of a training program on footwear.
 
"We are pleased to have acquired this kind of expertise to come and groom our local business companies in the leather and leather products sector. BEDIA strives for growth of Botswana companies and its steps such as these that will see our own local products making it big in the international markets. It is also an opportunity for those who will learn from Mr. Reinhackel to impart their knowledge to other upcoming Batswana in the same industry," said the Deputy Director PR & Communications, Mrs Kungo Lentswe.
 
Mr. Reinhackel is the first of the many expected SES experts to visit Botswana this year. More are expected to train local companies in the categories outlined above.