International Buyers' Exhibitions
The European Commission, DG XVI, has published a Vade-mecum for the International Buyers' Exhibition (IBEX) initiative, an EC initiative for enterprise cooperation being implemented under the Community Initiative for the adaptation of SMEs to the single market. The International Buyers' Exhibitions were developed by DG XXIII of the European Commission at the request of the Council. They offer a forum through which large companies are able to meet SMEs who may be suitable partners for cooperation. The organizers of an IBEX pre-arrange meetings, on the basis of the (often confidential) needs of the large enterprises. IBEXs will either concentrate on a particular industry, for example, aeronautics or chemistry, or on a particular category of SMEs, such as new companies or high technology companies. The Commission supports IBEXs in regions which are covered by Objectives 1 and 6 (up to 50% of the costs) and Objectives 2 and 5b (up to 30% of the costs). The aim is for SMEs from these regions to gain new business from large enterprises which may come from any country. The Vade-mecum provides information on the conditions to be met for an event to qualify for funding as an IBEX. In particular, it expands the rules relating to the organization of these fora to take account of Community regional policy and should, consequently, be of particular interest to SMEs in regions eligible for structural funds.