European business centres for Morocco and Tunisia The European Commission, DG I, has published a call for expressions of interest for the establishment of European business centres in Morocco and Tunisia. The European Commission wishes to establish a short-list of companies to be invited to tender for the establishment and o... The European Commission, DG I, has published a call for expressions of interest for the establishment of European business centres in Morocco and Tunisia. The European Commission wishes to establish a short-list of companies to be invited to tender for the establishment and operation of European business centres in Morocco and Tunisia. These will be called "Euro-Maroc Entreprise" and "Euro-Tunisie Entreprise" respectively (other similar centres are to be established throughout the Southern Mediterranean region). The centres will represent an important part of wider private sector development programmes in each country. As such, their overall objective is to improve the competitiveness of the private sector and enhance its ability to take advantage of new opportunities. The centres will, in particular, offer an initial diagnostic study to companies and assist them in producing business plans for submission to bankers and other potential financiers. If appropriate, a business development plan will be developed for implementation over the medium-term. The activities of the centres will be demand-led and will respond to specific requests for assistance from individual companies. The centres will coordinate the provision of assistance from external sources of expertise as appropriate. Whilst a degree of cost-recovery for services will be required, the centres will manage a budget, allocated for a period of five years, for the provision of consultancy and training services. The centres will also help build links between Moroccan and Tunisian companies and European partners including, for example, joint-ventures, franchising, licensing agreements and sub-contracts. Comprehensive data on regional and international market opportunities will be provided and existing Commission instruments such as ECIP, Euro-Info Centres, BC-Net and BRE will be promoted. Companies should submit brief letters of interest (maximum 2 pages) demonstrating their familiarity with the European consultancy industry and the business environment in the Mediterranean. Companies may be contracted for the operation of only one centre and should, therefore, state their preference. It is envisaged that the centres will comprise a team of European and Moroccan or Tunisian consultants. Collaborative proposals from two or more companies in two or more countries will be particularly welcome. Letters of interest should quote the reference MAG PSDP on the envelope and be sent to: European Commission DG I/H.5 Technical Unit for the Mediterranean 200 rue de la Loi B-1049 Brussels
