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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
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Mentorship Programme for SMEs invites applications
Sunday, October 12, 2003

The Trade and Industry Department (TID) invites SME proprietors to join the 2003/04 Mentorship Programme, which is run by its Support and Consultation Centre for SMEs (SUCCESS) in partnership with 42 leading trade and industrial organisations. SME proprietors may apply to TID between 13 October and 8 November 2003, a TID spokesman said today (October 12).

The Programme aims to help SME proprietors build entrepreneurship and develop leadership by providing them with an opportunity to receive guidance from accomplished entrepreneurs, senior executives, and professionals through one-on-one free counselling. The mentorship period will last for nine months. Apart from meeting the mentor, the SME proprietor participating in the programme will be required to attend a training course on leadership or financial management designated by the Trade and Industry Department. Also, he will be invited to attend workshops, seminars and networking sessions organised by TID and the 42 co-organisers.

Mentees may also participate in the "Student Attachment Pilot Programme", an optional scheme of the 2003/04 Programme. Under this pilot programme, TID will help mentees identify and engage undergraduates from local higher education institutions participating in the pilot programme to conduct short-term projects for their companies.

"SME proprietors have to equip themselves for the challenges of a knowledge-based economy, and the new business opportunities arising from China's accession to the World Trade Organisation and the implementation of the "Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement". The Government is committed to providing support to SMEs to facilitate their development and enhance their competitiveness. This Programme underlines that commitment," the TID spokesman said.

SME entrepreneurs who run locally registered companies employing fewer than 20 people in Hong Kong and are established for less than five years are eligible to apply for the 2003/04 Mentorship Programme.

Application forms can be obtained from:

- SUCCESS, M/F, Trade and Industry Department Tower, 700 Nathan Road, Kowloon;

- Offices of the 42 co-organisers;

- District Offices of the Home Affairs Department;

- SUCCESS' website (www.success.tid.gov.hk).

Completed application forms should be returned to SUCCESS on or before 8 November 2003.

For enquiries, please contact SUCCESS (Tel: 2398 5133; Fax: 2317 4852/2375 7105; E-mail address:smeenq@tid.gov.hk).

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