Message-ID: <199812082309.SAA42998@dresden.american.edu> Date: Tue, 8 Dec 1998 18:09:21 -0500 From: Jean-Claude Lorin <mailto:jlorin@SYNAPSE.NET> Subject: ENTERWeb News #9 To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
Are you looking for QUALITY sources of information on small business, finance, international trade, entrepreneurship, enterprise development and the economy?**************************************************************************** ENTERWeb News #9 October/November 1998 < http://www.enterweb.org/> ****************************************************************************
You will find hereunder the titles ( and short descriptions ) of the new sites which have been added to ENTERWeb during the months of October and November 1998. If you are interested in accessing any of those sites just go to ENTERWeb main page < http://www.enterweb.org/> and press on the "What's new" button which will direct you to the appropriate sections.
*************************************************************************** 1) Canadian Community Investment Web Site
This website has been launched to support and nurture the growing movement to find local solutions to the problem of financing small and community-based businesses. A bit limited at this stage but do not miss their related links and even more importantly the Industry Canada report on " Community-Supported Financing of Small Business and Micro-enterprise". The site also includes instructions on how to join the Community Investment Mailing List to receive information, commentary and news on this growing movement.
2) Enterprise Research Foundation
The Enterprise Research Foundation (ERF) is a not-for-profit institution that conducts research that emphasizes the need for continuing, consistent reform along the path to an open economy. The focus is on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), second generation policy reform, social issues important to developing countries as well as sustainable development. It advocates market oriented solutions to promote economic development. It is possible to download a few quite interesting reports.
3) Services d'Aide aux Jeunes Entrepreneurs (SAJE)
The "Services d'aide aux jeunes entrepreneurs (SAJE)" in Quebec are organizations promoting youth entrepreneurship and providing support and assistance during the enterprise creation process. The section on enterprise start-up and the list of useful links are interesting.
4) UNESCO's MicroFinance Unit (MFU)
UNESCO recognizes the need for microfinance and its far reaching capabilities and in 1995 established its own microfinance unit (MFU) in order to promote microfinance as a tool in poverty alleviation. Their objectives are to build information networks and establish partnerships with other microcredit organizations. Interesting but somewhat limited.
5) University of Cologne's AEF
The web site of the University of Cologne's Development Research Center leads to interesting publications and links on microfinance. Of particular interest are the working paper series which can be downloaded. They cover extremely relevant issues such as outreach, viability, sustainability, prudential regulation, etc. and even strategies for establishing microfinance institutions.
6) Pact's small enterprise and microfinance programs
Pact is an independent international nonprofit corporation well known for its publications on international development (see bibliography section of ENTERWeb). Pact sees access to credit and microenterprise development services for the poor as providing the fuel to more sustainable community-based organizations. Their webpage provides interesting examples of their work on small enterprise and microfinance.
7) Czech Business Navigator
The Czech Business Navigator is a guide providing general and specific information on government, customs regulations, export-import, banking, businesses, etc.. in other words anything of interest for doing business in the Czech Republic. It also includes business information on other parts of the world.
8) Youth Resource Network of Canada - Self-Employment
This Canadian site on self-employment for young people provides directions on where to go to find information on how to start your own business, obtain financial resources and prepare a business plan. A truly excellent site.
9) Association for International Business
The Association for International Business, Inc. is a not-for-profit educational organization which is also an on-line global business community of nearly 8,000 people in 160 countries. Its best feature is the AIB's International Business Discussion Group which seeks to provide a bridge between business people in all lands and provide them a way to make contacts, find new trading partners & share resources.
10) Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives(COPAC)
COPAC is a partnership between representatives of the cooperative movement together with farmers' and workers' organizations, and the United Nations and its agencies. Its objectives are to promote and coordinate sustainable cooperative development through policy dialogues, technical cooperation and information, and concrete collaborative activities. Very rich and excellent site. Do not miss the sections on "cooperative legislation" and on "cooperative development projects".
11) CyberTribunal
CyberTribunal is an experimental project, developed by the Centre de recherche en droit public (CRDP) in Montreal, targeting the establishment of a innovative service for the prevention and resolution of conflicts arising in cyberspace. Interesting and innovative.
12) Federation of International Trade Associations
The Federation of International Trade Associations (FITA) fosters international trade by strengthening the role of local, regional, and national associations throughout North America that have an international mission.The FITA index of web resources is just amazing. Do not miss the FITA Trade Lead Hub.
13) International Economics Study Center
Set up by an Associate Professor of Economics and International Affairs at The George Washington University, the main feature of this website is an online international trade theory and policy text designed for students and professionals at all levels. It also includes a 3 year evaluation of the WTO as well as a selection of links.
14) United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
The Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) is the forum at which the countries of North America, western, central and eastern Europe and central Asia come together to forge the tools of their economic cooperation. Forget the "blah blah" and go to the two most interesting sections; "the data base on SME development" (in operational activities) and the "Statistics" section.
15) Économie sociale et territoire
This francophone site, part of Globenet, an associative network, provides a list of links related to the social economy, alternative modes of financing, community development, etc. Interesting and useful.
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If you have sites to suggest for review, please let me know. If you have comments or suggestions on the way ENTERWeb should evolve, don't hesitate and drop me a line, and finally don't forget to tell your colleagues and friends about ENTERWeb. The more feedback I receive the better it will be.
Happy browsin g Jean-Claude Lorin ENTERWeb Webmaster <mailto:mailto:jlorin@synapse.net> <http://www.enterweb.org>