• The initiative represents another step forward in GAS NATURAL FENOSA's commitment to developing the economy, industry and businesses in the region.

Earlier today, the Regional Minister for Economic Affairs and Employment of the Regional Government of Aragon, Francisco Bono, and the Managing Director of the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation, Martí Solà, officially opened the first training day held under the First Export Programme at the Association of Chartered Industrial Engineers of Aragon and La Rioja. The event was attended by over 50 professionals from small- and medium-sized enterprises in Aragon.

These training days form part of the partnership agreement signed in September between the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation and AREX-Aragón Exterior, under which the two entities undertake to provide training and promote the services aimed at helping and offering advice on export activity by small- and medium-sized enterprises in the autonomous region of Aragon.

The First Export Programme is a project being run by the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation to provide free training and advice to SMEs from throughout the Spanish region wishing to embark on export activity for the first time through a comprehensive, free and ongoing training plan. To date, 59 companies in Aragon have registered for the programme.

Those attending today's session - entitled First Export: A surmountable challenge for any SME - received advice from the Executive Director of the First Export Programme, Emilio Segura, who discussed key aspects in self-diagnosing the export capacities of an SME.

Business experts from various sectors, institutions and the public administration services also took part in the session. These experts included the Product Manager from DHL Express Servicios, Marta Belloso, who provided some practical advice on how to avoid incidents and optimise international transport and customs procedures.

In turn, the Foreign Trade Manager from La Caixa, Iñigo Senosiain, examined ways to reduce possible finance risk by adopting certain methods of payment and payment collection in foreign trade operations, while the Director of the Sales Office for the Eastern Territory-Zone of Iberinform (Crédito y Caución Group), Javier Burriel, offered some guidelines on searching for the ideal partner.

Finally, the Director-General of AREX-Aragón Exterior of the Regional Government of Aragon, Ignacio M. de Albornoz, explained the eight key issues in embarking on export activity and presented a specific case study on a company from Aragon, for which the Sales Manager at Venchaga S.L., Penélope García Cruz, explained the success story at her company.


First Export Programme
The First Export Programme of the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation focuses on lending support to SMEs as they take their first steps towards exporting to anywhere in the world through a full, free and ongoing training plan that includes in-person and online training sessions, as well as personalised advice and mentoring. Participants will learn about international marketing, corporate management and pricing, among other subjects.

The programme that the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation created in Argentina in 2001 has been implemented in Spain for the first time this year. In order to participate in the programme, interested companies have to provide a Tax ID number and register in the programme through the website www.fundaciongasnaturalfenosa.org.

A new initiative from the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation in Aragon

The introduction of this programme to help SMEs in Aragon is another step in GAS NATURAL FENOSA's commitment to this region, where the activity of its Foundation contributes to the development of the local economy, industry and businesses, thereby generating wealth, jobs and progress.

The Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation, founded in 1992, targets its activity at the promotion of information, training and increased social awareness on improving energy efficiency and technological innovation in the field of energy while respecting and protecting the environment, and promotes cultural activities through the Gas Museum aimed at preserving and spreading knowledge about the historical and cultural heritage of the sector. It also engages in international activities in Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Morocco, Italy and Moldova.

Zaragoza, 13 November 2014.

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