What is Industrial Upgrading?
The concept
of Industrial Modernization and Upgrading was
developed in mid-80s to support countries with a weak
industrial base in the process of adhesion to bilateral,
regional or multilateral association and free trade
agreements. Upgrading programmes aim at strengthening
countries supply-capacity to enable the local industry to
face increasing competition in their domestic market and to
take advantages of new trade opportunities in export
markets.
UNIDO has
developed and successfully implemented in several developing
countries and economies in transition an industrial
restructuring and upgrading methodology. UNIDO approach,
which is part of its trade capacity building programme, aims
at building local capacity to design and implement upgrading
programmes to enhance the competitiveness of the industrial
sector and to improve the environment under which
enterprises operate, coupled with demonstration activities
with groups of pilot-enterprises.
What is “I’M UP-Syria”?
The new context
of liberalization of the economy and globalization is
characterized by opportunities and challenges. Developing
countries and economies in transition need to prepare
themselves and implement a national upgrading and
modernization plan to take advantage of the positive effects
of liberalization.
For Syria,
liberalization of trade means strengthening competitive
advantage through raising the level of quality and safety of
its products and services in accordance with international
standards, thus leading to a facilitated access to
international markets, increased exports and significant
impact on growth and competitiveness of the industry and of
employment.
Industrial
Modernization and Upgrading Programme “I’M UP-Syria”
is technical assistance programme developed by UNIDO
together with the Syrian Ministry of Industry and funded by
the Italian Development Cooperation. It aims at developing
the competitiveness of the private manufacturing sector,
focusing on the textile value chain, so that it can benefit
from new trade opportunities in the regional and global
markets. It also provides the necessary technical assistance
to the Ministry of Industry in Syria and the private sector
for the development of a national upgrading programme to
improve the competitiveness and productivity of the
industrial sector as a whole.
I’M UP-
Syria will formulate a national
programme for industrial upgrading and design a funding
scheme to enable local enterprises to carry out in-depth
diagnostic and implementation of improvement plans.
Technical assistance provided to 40 selected enterprises in
the textile sector (on pilot basis) will include: design of
detailed actions, training for top and middle management as
well as training national consultants and consultancy
companies, export development and both access to
international market and investment partnership promotion.
What are the main objectives?
-
Formulation of a national programme for
industrial modernization and upgrading including a
financial scheme.
-
Building National Capacity in the field
of industrial restructuring, modernization and upgrading
both at government and private sector levels;
-
Modernization and upgrading of 40
pilot-enterprises in the textile sector.
What will be achieved by the I’M
UP-Syria?
At the national
level:
-
National programme for industrial
modernization/upgrading formulated including proposal
for funding mechanisms and instruments;
-
Investment Office and Department for Private
Sector in the Ministry of Industry will be strengthened
in Investment and Technology Promotion.
At the sectoral
level (textile value chain)
-
Sub-sector strategy for the development of the
textile industry (focusing on weaving, finishing and
garments sectors), based on value chain analysis;
-
Diagnostic studies and upgrading plans for up to
40 enterprises in the textile sector;
-
40 enterprises in the textile sector upgraded
through technical assistance (improving quality, safety,
productivity, compliance with international
standards..), thus leading to increase in sales,
exports, investment and overall competitiveness;
-
Enterprises supported in the
implementation of international standards and
certification;
-
Technology Centers and Support institutions in the
textile sector strengthened;
-
Up to 15 enterprises assisted though promotion of
partnerships with foreign companies (technology
transfer, joint venture, market access, etc).
What are
the opportunities for business development professionals?
-
100 national consultants and high-level staff from
industrial support institutions (Banks, technical and
management development centers, Businesses
Associations…), trained on upgrading methodologies,
techniques and UNIDO tools/ software packages;
-
Professional capabilities of national consultants,
consulting companies and support institutions
strengthened.
Who
will benefit from the project?
-
Industrial
Enterprises
-
Ministry of Industry
including its Investment Office and the
Private Sector Development Department
-
Industrial
Support Institutions and service providers
-
National
Consultants and experts
What are
the key criteria of selection of beneficiary
pilot-enterprises?
-
Number of employees:
more than ten full-time workers
-
Sector: Textile and
garments value chain
-
Ownership: Private
enterprise, wholly or with a majority Syrian ownership
commercially registered in Syria
-
Potential
for growth: financial status, export orientation,
strategic vision…
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