EU gateway programs

Reads as if it were written by the "professional team of advisors" of the EU Gateway Program itself (the main author is called "Cluster Coordinator" ... see WP: Conflict of Interest ). The sources given are all internal views, is there no (possibly critical) external perception from third parties in reliable literature ? Lots of rumors such as "tailor-made", "high potential", "heavily funded business development program", "fully exploiting export opportunities", etc. And endless repetitions. How much does the "heavily funded economic development program" actually cost the EU Commission in euros, nothing about that? How many employees / advertised consulting contracts? Not much better either, but with more references, en: Draft: EU Gateway Program .

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The EU Gateway Program is an economic development program organized by the European Commission which aims to increase the export of goods to Japan and South Korea . The program was founded by the European Commission because it is a great challenge for European companies to understand the cultural, economic and linguistic characteristics of Japan and South Korea and to develop suitable market strategies accordingly. The EU Gateway Program was designed to make it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the European Union to enter these countries through industry-specific business trips to Japan and South Korea.

The program offers the participating EU companies financial and organizational support, strategic preparation by a professional team of consultants in Europe, Japan and Korea, advertising the company to potential business partners and a tailor-made search for business contacts in Japan or Korea.

Since 1994, more than 3000 European companies have participated in the EU Gateway Program and have expanded their business in the Japanese and Korean markets.

EU Gateway Program participants per country (2008-2014)

background

There is great potential in exporting to Japan and South Korea, two of the world's leading economic powers and important foreign trade partners of the EU. According to an estimate of a study commissioned by the European Commission in 2011, trade with Japan and South Korea could open up new export opportunities for European companies of between EUR 20 billion and EUR 40 billion per year by 2020.

However, Europe and East Asia are culturally far apart, which is reflected not only in everyday customs and habits, but also in language, writing and business culture. For European companies, this results in significant trade barriers that prevent them from fully exploiting such export opportunities. Following the example of the Executive Training Program , the EU Gateway Program was launched in 1994 under the name "Gateway to Japan" to support EU companies in breaking down trade barriers and opening up the Japanese market. According to Benita Ferrero-Waldner , former EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy, has asked the program's benefits to the test and helped to understand the workings of the Japanese market better, increasing business contacts and investment opportunities have emerged.

Following the example of the “Gateway to Japan” program, which between 1994 and 2007 helped over 2000 European companies to open up the Japanese market, the European Commission expanded the program in 2008 to the Republic of Korea and consequently to the EU Renamed gateway. The program format has also been better tailored to companies from the technology and design sectors and is to be regularly adapted to changing market conditions.

Program overview

The main component of the EU gateway program is one-week business trips that are organized industry-specific throughout the year. The aim of these so-called "Business Missions" is to help participating companies to establish strategic business contacts, to gain a better insight into the Japanese and Korean markets and to establish long-term business relationships and trade with Japan and South Korea. In addition, an on-site trade fair offers European technology and design companies the opportunity to present their products to an Asian specialist audience.

Around 40 companies from the EU can take part in each business mission.

The program currently exists for five industrial areas, two of which are focused on Japan and Korea:

• Energy and environmental technology (Japan / Korea)
• Health and Medical Technology (Japan / Korea)
• Construction and building technology (Japan)
• Fashion design (Japan)
• Interior decoration (Japan).

In addition to the trade fair, which forms the main part of the EU business trip and serves to present the company and products, sector-specific excursions (e.g. visits to factories, companies, laboratories, shops, etc.), networking events and individual meetings of the selected companies with potential Japanese and Korean business partners.

In contrast to traditional business support, this program supports EU companies in all phases of their business strategy for Japan and Korea. The European Commission supports the participating companies with a variety of services, which can be roughly divided into three categories:

1. Professional coaching: From the time of the pre-selection to the return of the company to Europe, the companies are supported by a professional team of consultants in logistical and strategic questions. As part of this strategic preparation, a meeting will be organized in Brussels a few weeks before the business trip, which will inform businesses about market entry strategies and regulatory, cultural and legal features in Japan / Korea.
2. Support during Business Week: The European Commission, in cooperation with Japanese experts, takes over the entire financing, organization and implementation of the trade fair in Tokyo or Seoul . The EU is responsible for publicizing the trade fair and the participating companies in the media, the exhibition stands, on-site assistance for participating companies and translation services. Furthermore, the EU organizes sector-specific excursions ("Study Tour") and an official reception by the European Commission, to which political representatives of the country are also invited. Before starting the trip, the EU Gateway team in Japan / Korea specifically searches for suitable potential business partners for the individual European companies and invites them to the fair or also makes appointments outside the fair.
3. Financial support:
   1. Up to 1500 euros reimbursement of hotel costs per company
   2. 80% of the costs for customer-specific services, but a maximum of 1600 euros per company. Eligible services include: translation and printing of marketing materials, import assistance, translation services outside the exhibition, legal advice, product registration in the target country.

Selection process and criteria

The EU Gateway Program is limited to companies that establish their business activities in one of the five industries represented in the EU Gateway Program (health and medical technology, construction and building technology, environmental and energy technology, interior furnishings and fashion design). Service providers are excluded from this program. The company must also have its headquarters within the EU and have been in the market for at least five years. In addition, the European Commission expects experience in international trade cooperation and a solid idea and strategy of entering the market in Japan and Korea. Provided that the above-mentioned participation requirements are met, a company can apply via the website of the EU Gateway Program.

Web links

• EU Gateway website
• Testimonials and experience reports from EU Gateway participants

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Austrian Chamber of Commerce ( Memento of the original from April 21, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Website of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved November 10, 2012. 
2. ↑ European Commission  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Retrieved December 9, 2012  
3. ↑ European Commission ( Memento of the original from November 22, 2014) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 122 kB) 
4. ↑ European Commission . Retrieved December 15, 2012
5. ↑ European Commission ( Memento of the original dated August 24, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved December 15, 2012 
6. ↑ Foreign trade portal Bavaria ( Memento of the original from November 23, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved November 10, 2012 
7. ↑ ^{a b c d} EU Gateway Flyer  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 285 kB)  
8. ↑ IHK Braunschweig  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Retrieved August 9, 2012  
9. ↑ Jetro Germany (PDF; 1.0 MB)
10. ↑ Eurochambers