Gas Natural SDG : Fenosa Foundation organises practical workshop for SMEs on intercultural negotiation in A Coruña

• The initiative forms part of the First Export Programme, which is aimed at providing free training and advice to SMEs in any sector wishing to embark on export activity for the first time.

In collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Service and Shipping of A Coruña, the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation will hold a practical workshop in the city of A Coruña on Tuesday, 10 May, aimed at business leaders and business owners from SMEs wishing to strengthen their negotiation skills in intercultural environments. The event, which is free to attend after registering on the foundation's website, will take place from 11:00 to 13:00 at the Chamber of Commerce headquarters at 30 Alameda.

The workshop, which forms part of the First Export Programme, has been designed to offer training in commercial negotiation for SMEs in response to intercultural issues that arise in export negotiation processes (as well as non-export business). Intercultural issues are an inherent part of any international negotiation and/or export activity, and the foundation wishes to offer some key ways to manage them successfully.

Those attending the session in A Coruña will receive advice from the Executive Director of the First Export Programme of the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation, Emilio Segura, as he discusses the key issues for avoiding 'culture clash' and explains the most effective tools for obtaining the best results from any commercial negotiation process. Understanding the key cultural issues that affect how negotiators relate to one another in various parts of the world can greatly improve the final result.

These six workshops, which will be held in the main cities of Galicia, form part of the partnership agreement signed between the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation and IGAPE (the Galician Institute for Promoting the Economy), under which the two entities commit to providing training and promoting those services aimed at helping and offering advice on export activity by small- and medium-sized enterprises in Galicia in collaboration with the respective Chambers of Commerce.

To take part in the programme, interested companies need to provide a CIF (tax ID number) and register for the programme on the website at www.fundaciongasnaturalfenosa.org.

First Export Programme

The First Export Programme is a project run by the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation to provide free training and advice to SMEs from throughout Spanish wishing to embark on export activity for the first time with a comprehensive, free and ongoing training plan. So far, over 370 business leaders and executives from SMEs in Galicia have taken part in the programme.

The initiative focuses on lending support to SMEs as they take their first towards exporting 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, business management and pricing, among other subjects.

New initiative from the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation in Galicia

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

Founded in 1992, the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation 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. Its international activities are carried out in Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Morocco, Italy, Moldova and South Africa.

La Coruña, 2 May 2016.