From the Private Sector Development (PSD) Programme to the Business-to-Business (B2B) Development ProgrammeThe Objectives of the new B2B Programme in Egypt are the result of efficient adjustments to the PSD Programme in 2006. The overall objective of the B2B Programme is to generate developmental outcomes and alleviate poverty. Within this objective, the aim of the Programme is to develop Egyptian business activities, as well as to promote long-term cooperation between Danish companies and local partners. The B2B Programme strongly emphasises the issues of additionality, which stipulates that the project needs to have a developmental effect in order to be supported. The Danish company is required to fulfil at least one, and preferably more, of the following development impact criteria:
All companies that have the required prerequisites, commitment and expertise to assume the role of a partner in a B2B project are eligible for B2B support. Even though the aim of the project is not necessarily the establishment of a joint venture, it is important that the Danish company itself operates within the same sector as the local partner. Moreover a new aspect of the B2B Programme is the support to the implementation of projects with two or more local partners, provided that this will imply good sense from a commercial and development impact perspective. Correspondingly, a Danish company should be able to enter into more collaboration projects in Egypt- also with the same partner- if it does not lead to distortion in the market in question. Empowering the Egyptian Business CommunityThe PSD/B2B program has been active in Egypt since 1994.The program has been granted DKK 126 million (USD 20 Mill) and has assisted in the establishment of approximately 50 start-ups and approximately 50 long term partnerships. Programme achievements The B2B Programme supports commercial ideas and initiatives originating from both Egyptian and Danish companies. The Programme operates within a variety of industries such as textiles and garments, food and agriculture, oil and gas and the service sector and the IT Sector. The Programme has been beneficial for both Danish companies and their Egyptian counterparts and has enabled a great amount of technology transfer and know how, improved management, increased productivity, new investment capital, access to foreign markets, improved working conditions and environmental upgrading. It has helped creating huge networks within and among different sectors. Who can apply? The B2B program supports enterprises in most sectors, as long as it is fair to assume that the proposed business co-operation has a genuine development impact. Activities in Egypt have included the agricultural, energy, environment and IT sectors. The 3 phases of the B2B SupportThe B2B Programme offers support to companies during the process of establishing and implementing a partnership. The support usually extends over a few years and can be divided into three phases, as illustrated below: Contact phase
