INTEGRATED COMPANY REPORT 2014 - GIZ. Solutions that work.

36-37 / 68

Manager training | Contacts and networks – both are valu-
able in opening doors for the German private sector to do
business internationally. This is why GIZ develops and orga-
nises special programmes for various German federal states
that are designed to help initiate partnerships between small
and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Germany and
managers of foreign companies. Both sides benefit from the
transfer of expertise in the training and networking pro-
grammes for international students and young experts and
managers. The German host companies establish personal
relationships with future business partners abroad, which
often lead to long-term cooperation. The young experts and
managers gain practical experience and familiarise them-
selves with the innovative and technological potential of
their host companies.
One example is the ‘Partners of tomorrow’ pro-
gramme funded by the state of Saxony-Anhalt. This pro-
gramme addresses foreign students of engineering and eco-
nomics, and companies in Saxony-Anhalt that wish to tap
new international markets with their products in the fields
of environmental engineering, renewable energy and energy
efficiency. The students complete an internship that supports
the foreign trade activities of the host company. This might
involve making preparations for participating in an interna-
tional trade fair, developing sales materials or approaching
new suppliers or business partners.
On behalf of the Government of Mecklenburg-
Western Pomerania, GIZ is organising training and visitors’
programmes to support international economic coopera-
tion. In 2014, most of the experts and managers came from
Russia. The focal areas were logistics, ports and transport,
energy technology and the food industry.
Funded by the Government of Bavaria, GIZ also con-
ducts management training programmes. In the classroom
and during internships in Bavarian companies, the partici-
pants from Africa, Asia and Latin America learn how to
develop strategies for innovative business models, receive
first-hand market information and draw up business plans.
In return, the private sector in Bavaria benefits from new
business cooperation arrangements and the further develop-
ment of its international marketing strategies. As well as
environmental technologies, these activities also focus on
sustainable tourism and forest-based industries.
The state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) has been
cooperating with its Chinese partner provinces of Jiangsu,
Shanxi and Sichuan for over 30 years, chiefly in the fields of
foreign trade, the green economy, transport and energy.
Jiangsu province has also commissioned GIZ to advise it on
further developing its rail transport system. So far more
than 1,000 Chinese experts and managers have taken part
in the programmes funded by North Rhine-Westphalia
and China. //
// Germany and worldwide
Opening doors for
international business
02
|
Social and environmental standards | Safer workplaces, fair
wages, codetermination – in Bangladesh, GIZ has supported
over 2,000 companies with a combined workforce of
1.5 million in introducing higher social and environmental
standards. On behalf of BMZ, GIZ worked directly with
the management of the companies involved as well as
with public authorities, trade unions and factory workers’
associations. GIZ also trained 200 factory inspectors on
behalf of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Labour and Employ-
ment. Prior to that there were just 19 government officials
responsible for inspecting thousands of textile factories.
All projects shared one objective: a permanent improvement
in working conditions for the 3.8 million people employed
in the textiles and clothing sector – most of whom are
women. Funded by the C&A Foundation, GIZ also sup-
ported some of the clothing group’s key suppliers that
employ a total of some 16,000 staff. Mixed workforce and
management teams are working to achieve higher wages,
investment in fire safety and better medical care. The project
came to a close in 2014, but the teams are still in action
and setting an example to other factories.
GIZ is also coordinating the Partnership for Sustain-
able Textiles launched by BMZ. This alliance aims to raise
environmental and social standards step by step across the
entire textile production chain. //
// Bangladesh
Better working conditions
Contact: //
Youth employment | Young, no training, few prospects.
Almost one in five people in the Dominican Republic who
are fit for work are unable to find a job. This is why the gov-
ernment is involved in a triangular cooperation arrangement
with Chile and Germany that aims to create more training
opportunities for young people. The result: more than 900
have already been trained through various employment ini-
tiatives. Almost half of them have either found paid employ-
ment or become self-employed – as mechanics, plumbers, or
in the catering and tourism industry. As it plays its part in
this arrangement on BMZ’s behalf, GIZ is bringing all its
specific strengths to bear. Together with the Chilean part-
ner, GIZ is advising the Ministry of Labour and the relevant
training institutions, for instance on financial planning and
on designing support programmes. There are also plans to
make it easier in future for young people to become self-
employed and obtain small loans. The vocational training
measures focus on teacher and instructor training and
bringing curricula up to date. The Dominican Republic is
leading this process, and as it does so it is making use of the
lessons it has already learned in international cooperation
with Germany. //
// The Dominican Republic, Chile and Germany
Giving young
people a
professional
future
Contact: //
Over
1,000
Chinese experts and
managers have taken part
in programmes funded by
NRW and China.
GIZ Integrated Company Report 2014 32 33 Business and financial systems development