On Wednesday June 26, the Alliance launched “Compañeros de Comercio”, a mentorship program designed to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the Dominican Republic in
accessing international markets. The initiative was launched as a part of a wider Alliance project in the country to support MSME growth through business internationalisation.
Uniquely designed for small business by small business, “Compañeros de Comercio” takes an innovative peer-to-peer learning approach – MSMEs with exporting experience will mentor businesses who have never exported before by offering them practical knowledge and valuable insights. This will ensure that participants receive relevant, actionable advice on real-world problems.
Running from June to October 2024, the program is designed for impact. It will foster a network for success by pairing 20 SMEs with 11 experienced mentors. Each mentee will receive personalised guidance tailored to enhance their export skills and strategies, boosting their overall export-readiness.
Mentorship sessions will focus on essential areas like navigating regulations, logistics, and market research, addressing the specific challenges facing MSMEs in international trade. In total, mentees will participate in six in-person mentorship sessions. The success stories of participating MSMEs will be celebrated in a closing event in October 2024.
Following the Alliance’s public private partnership model, the mentorship program will be implemented collaboratively by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic (AMCHAMDR), CODOPYME, Pro-Industria, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs (MICM), the General Directorate of Customs, the National Council of Export Free Zones, the Dominican Association of Free Zones (ADOZONA), and the Dominican Association of Exporters (ADOEXPO).