Latest Trends in Social & Environmental Responsibilities in Europe (LASER) is an initiative within the European Union’s Asia Invest Programme. The Asia-Invest Programme was launched in 1997 as an initiative of the European Union to promote and support business co-operation between the EU Member States and Asia. The Programme provides assistance to intermediary organizations to facilitate mutually beneficial partnerships between EU and Asian companies, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as to strengthen the framework conditions to increase trade and investment flows between the two regions. Asia-Invest emphasizes on three main areas of activity:
- Business to business match-making and partnership building;
- Asian private sector development, and
- Institutional capacity building, networking and dialogue
The important objectives within the LASER Project include:
To develop a decision support tool for local SMEs to understand, analyze and proactively prepare them to comply with the latest developments in environment & social responsibility requirements in EU, and thus reinforce and strengthen the existing business links with their EU business partners
Sensitize Asian business intermediaries on latest developments in EU pertaining to environment and social responsibility
Build capacity in the staff of Asian Business intermediaries to service the local business to interpret and comply with the requirements on environment & social responsibility in Europe
To strengthening networking between Asian and EU business intermediaries to enhance closure and continued exchange of experience and information on the subject area, thereby having an induced positive impact on bilateral business between the two regions
To provide a platform for the businesses in EU and Asia to identify the complying business partners – to develop the platform and criteria for the businesses to be included on such platform.
Visit the official website for further information http://csr-euasia.org/
LASER Project sensitization in Sri Lanka |
Regularity |
Description
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One time |
Workshop on REACH
27.06.08 – Sustainable Chemical Management – Focus on REACH Pre-registration & Registration
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On going |
REACH Support – Helpdesk
This includes replying to the industry queries on how to get them started for REACH Pre-registration as well as access to the REACH Support portal for ECCSL member exporters.
For further information please contact eccsl@sltnet.lk
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On going – On request |
Group Workshops on REACH Regulation
Sri Lankan exporters on request will be provided assistance through the half day and full day workshops. The workshops could be handled in the form of 10 – 20 or 20 - 40 participant per training programme. All cost will be co-financed, with a nominal levy being charged on the participant.
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On going – On request |
REACH – Onsite Evaluation / Consultancy assistance
On request, Sri Lankan exporters who are of the view that their products require Pre-registration, will have access to REACH experts, who would assist the organisation in clearly evaluating and identifying the need for REACH Pre-registration process.
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On going – On
request
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REACH Pre-registration – Assistance
Sri Lankan exporters requiring REACH Pre-registration, and required hands-on assistance would be supported through the REACH Support Helpdesk. |
For further information on any of the above services, please contact ECCSL on 9411 2375486 or e mail eccsl@sltnet.lk |
REACH Regulation : Creating awareness |
Description |
link |
REACH Fact sheet |
Coming soon |
REACH – Pre-registration |
Coming soon |
REACH – Only Rep |
Coming soon |
Notice of call for proposals (03/01/2006)
THE
OPERATION
The
Asia-Invest Programme 2003-2007 has been developed by the European
Commission as part of its range of initiatives to promote EU-Asia
economic cooperation.
The
Asia-Invest is supported by the European Community for over a
five year period with a budget of Euro 41 million. It is intended
to facilitate investments and to help small and medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs) from the European Union and Asia to internationalise their
business strategies and to do business with each other for the
first time.
The
programme is designed to help SMEs to identify cooperation partners
and provide them with the information necessary to make decisions
on partnerships, markets and investments.
PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES
Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, East Timor, India, Indonesia,
Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka,
Thailand, Vietnam and the EU Member States
ASIA-INVEST'S
FINANCING INSTRUMENTS APPLICABLE TO SRI LANKA ARE AS FOLLOWS:
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ASIA-INTERPRISE
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BACKGROUND
One
of the instruments that are offered by the Asia-Invest programme
is business match-making activity, Asia-INTERPRISE.
It
promotes medium scale sector-specific and multi-sector business
meetings (100-300) companies. This provides a framework
for possible linkages between small and medium-sized enterprises
from Asian countries and the EU. Direct contacts between
business managers are arranged in the form of one-to-one
meetings.
Asia-INTERPRISE
events may take place in the European Union or in Asia.
The objective must be to arrange meetings between firms
aimed at discussing possible cooperation projects in order
to establish partnerships.
Financial
support
The European Community (EC) may grant each Asia-INTERPRISE
project a financial contribution of maximum 300,000 Euros.
This contribution may not exceed 50% of the total eligible
costs.
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ASIA-PARTENARIAT
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BACKGROUND
Asia-Partenariat is another business match-making activity
supported by the Asia-Invest Programme.
The
Asia-Partenariat programme promotes offers large scale multi-sector
business meetings in Asia to facilitate partnerships between
EU and Asian companies. This match-making event provides
an ideal opportunity for SMEs to make direct contact with
EU firms.
Financial
support
The European Community (EC) may grant each Asia-PARTENARIAT
project a financial contribution of maximum 1,200,000 Euros.
This contribution may not exceed 50% of the total eligible
costs.
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TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE |
BACKGROUND
This scheme aims at achieving
better prospects for economic cooperation between Asian
and European Companies.
Its objectives are
as follows:
-
Improving the capability of Asian companies to adapt to
European technical standards
- To
prepare them for economic cooperation with their European
counterparts
Technical
Assistance includes the following:
- Upgrading
the marketing and technical know-how of Asian SMEs
-
Training for Asian organisations on technical regulations
for access to international markets
-
Collaborative workshops for standards and quality management
-
Exchange of best practice, production techniques, technological
know-how to strengthen links to EU companies
Financial
Support
The EC contribution will be up to 50% of the eligible costs
for a maximum of Euro 150,000 for each proposal.
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ASIA-INVEST ALLIANCE |
BACKGROUND
The Asia-Invest Alliance supports Asian institutions to
improve capabilities and provides opportunities to network
with EU business intermediary organisations.
This project offers :
- Workshops
and training for staff of Asian business intermediary
organisations
-
Mutual visits and staff exchanges between EU and Asian
business intermediary organisations
-
Provide information linkages between EU and Asian counterparts
Financial Support
The EC contribution will be up to 75% of the eligible costs
for a maximum of Euro 200,000 for each proposal.
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Who may apply? |
To be eligible for a grant, applicants must comply with the
following conditions.
- Be
organisations representing groups of companies such as
industrial organisations federations of employers, chambers
of commerce;
-
Act in consortium with other eligible partner organisations;
-
Have their headquarters in eligible European or Asian
countries;
-
Be a non-profit making organisation;
-
Be directly responsible for the management of the proposed
project, not acting as an intermediary.
This report is intended to facilitate the groups of European
SMEs in their decision-making and strategy planning for
new Asian markets and for the establishment of partnerships
with Asian SMEs.
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Notice of call for proposals
Asia-Invest II Programme
EuropeAid/120735/C/G/Multi
The European Commission is seeking proposals for projects in the EU and in
eligible countries in Asia, with financial assistance from the Asia-Invest
II Programme.
The Asia-Invest II Programme is designed to promote Euro-Asian business
co-operation, with
a particular emphasis on aiding European and Asian small and medium-sized
enterprises
(SMEs), in their internationalisation process, thus increasing their
opportunities for mutual trade and investment.
This Call for Proposals comprises the following four components for which
grant support may be offered: Asia-VENTURE, Asia-INTERPRISE, Asia-Invest
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE and
Asia-Invest ALLIANCE.
The full Guidelines for Applicants are available for consultation on the
following internet site:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/asia-invest/index_en.htm.
There are two deadlines for submission of proposals:
(a) 15 March 2005 at 16.00, Brussels time; (b) 09 June 2005 at 16.00,
Brussels time.
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