http://www.eu-border.net/boss/

The Euro Info Centre (EIC) Thessaloniki of the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece (FING), in collaboration with the EIC Veneto and the Trade Development Centre of the Giulia region in Italy, and funded by the Enlargement Directorate General of the European Commission, was responsible for the implementation of the EU Programme B.O.S.S. This project was aimed at helping companies to take advantage of the business opportunities arising from EU Enlargement in order to develop business co-operation agreements (either trade or industrial) between SMEs from bordering regions of EU member states and accession countries.

On 4th & 5th March 2005 the first business matchmaking event took place in Padova Italy. The participation of the Greek business delegation was particularly successful, and was made up of 11 enterprises and 15 delegates in total. Overall 350 companies took part in this event and 1.160 b2b meetings were held. More specifically, the Greek delegation was made up of the following companies: ARTION, CHOTOS FOTIOS, DELTA PI, FING, INTERACT, INTRAWEIGH AUTOMATION, ITALIAN-HELLENIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, KIOLEMENIS GEORGE, MATEL MATTHEOU BROS. SA, MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY SA, PRISMA ELECTRONICS.

On 15th & 16th September 2005 the second business matchmaking event took place in Thessaloniki at the I.Vellidis Congress Centre of HELEXPO, during the 70th Thessaloniki International Fair. The event was particularly successful, with the participation of 280 SMEs from the 10 partner countries of the BOSS Project (Greece, Italy, Germany, Spain, Malta, Hungary, Slovenia, Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania). Approximately 1.100 pre-arranged b2b business matchmaking meetings were held.

Within the context of the aforementioned business matchmaking event, 3 Greek companies signed business co-operation agreements. The companies were: INTERKLARK in the sector of forklift spare parts, PETERS COLLECTION FASHION GROUP in the clothing sector, and KIOUROS NIK & CO in the sector of business consulting services.

On 12th & 13th March 2006 the third business matchmaking event took place in Udine Italy. The Greek business delegation was made up of 10 companies. A total of 330 enterprises took part in this event and 1.300 pre-arranged b2b business matchmaking meetings were held.

In addition, a special website was created within the framework of the BOSS Programme, www.eu-border.net/boss, which provideδ companies with the possibility to obtain information about the enterprises from other countries participating in the 3 business matchmaking events.

The Final Conference of the BOSS Programme entitled: “Enlargement: a threat or an opportunity for SMEs,” was held on 4th April 2006 in Brussels, where the results of the project were presented by representatives from the 10 partner countries. In addition, the specific experience of 1 Greek company and 1 Italian company that concluded business co-operation agreements as a result of their participation in this project, was also presented.

Contact person: Monika Nagy
E-mail: euroinfo@sbbe.gr