DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS FORUMS 2023
Shaping development goals and policies for our region
Following the pandemic and the global challenges it revealed, and based on the principles of sustainability and the necessity of rational destination management, TIEDA (Development Company) is called upon to highlight its crucial role in shaping and implementing this new reality.
Thus, building on these principles, we are launching a series of actions starting with the “Development Business Forums 2023.” This initiative involves organizing extroverted conferences/events in the municipal unit of Alexandroupolis. The aim is, through broad participation of institutions and community groups, to co-create development strategies, goals, and implementation actions, and to advocate for them in response to the challenges of the post-Covid-19 era. It also aims to assess conditions and re-evaluate existing data.
1. The aim of the “BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FORUM 2023” actions is to be a tool for managing entrepreneurship and its development in the region. To highlight Development Goals and initiatives in which the Chamber is a leader, with the aim of protecting and developing trade, industry, crafts and professions in our Municipality, within the interests of the national economy, as well as its general economic progress. To record and highlight local entrepreneurship problems and ultimately, to submit proposals and ideas for the better functioning of the “opinion leadership” system of the region
2. The Municipality will invite all entrepreneurs, local business and professional representatives, as well as local political leaders (Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Citizens, Party Organizations, etc.) to the Conferences, through a Press Release and personal emails, who we hope will support the development efforts we are making.
3. The television spots for the Conferences will be made using quick snapshots of actions in recent years. With the theme of reporting the importance and goals of these actions, business and political actors will be invited to participate, giving them the necessary weight and importance. The invitation will be made under the logo of the Municipality or the company that will organize it.
4. The Conferences will begin with the introduction of the President of the company (TIEDA development?), followed by possible suggestions-proposals from local bodies, etc. who will declare to the secretariat that they wish to make a suggestion on specific issues and then a panel of the combination will operate for a question-and-answer discussion of proposals with all participants. The coordination will be undertaken by a group of experts with the participation of local or national journalists.
5. All of the above should be highlighted in the Press Releases, Personal Invitations and TV Spot, namely Who, When, How and Why the “2023 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FORUMS” are being held, stating the goals and their organizational structure with the promise that the events in question will continue to be held every year with the support of the Development Agency. It is necessary and above all very important that these meetings constitute the “womb” for the birth of “development policies” and “demands” of the local economic community, with the participation of businesses, professionals but also politicians and not only decision-makers.
6. The simultaneous live broadcast of the events (Live streaming) will help disseminate the actions in society and will show the real value in creating a better living environment, given that the Development Company has been called upon by its role and must, as an opinion leader, produce for many years to come.
Forum Goals
The “BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FORUMS 2023” have as their immediate OBJECTIVE to create the necessary conditions for the development of the political and business Destination Management system of the area of the Municipality of Alexandroupolis and its satellites.
Through these development forums that we propose, a SWOT will be used in principle. analysis. It is calculated as an initial but particularly important tool for strategic planning of the development of our region, and will be used to analyze the internal and external environment in each region that must make a decision in relation to the goals it has set, with the aim of achieving them.
(The initials SWOT come from the English words: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (correspondingly in Greek: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats).
During the DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS, a SWOT analysis will be attempted, studying the strengths and weaknesses of each region, as well as the opportunities and threats that exist.
Strengths and weaknesses concern the internal environment of a region as they arise from the internal resources and management organization it possesses (e.g., personnel and executive capabilities, education, local specific and unique characteristics of the region, know-how, financial health and ability to respond to new investments, etc.).
On the contrary, opportunities and threats reflect variables of the region’s external environment which it must identify, adapt to or even adapt and integrate into entrepreneurship -where possible- (e.g. entry of new competitors, regulations in the legal environment, creation and/or emergence of new markets, etc.).
In general, when applying the analysis, an attempt is made to answer questions for each region in the most quantified way possible, such as:
Strengths:
- What are the competitive advantages of our region?
- What is our most competitive product/service?
- What unique or low-cost resources are available?
- What are the region's endogenous economic strengths?
- What is considered, from an economic point of view, to be the Chamber's intrinsic strength?
- What did we gain as a region during the pandemic (2020–2022)?
The above consideration of Strengths – Weaknesses is carried out both from the internal perspective and from the perspective of the “customers”. A critical factor that imposes the effort to quantify data is the possibility of a realistic (objective) assessment of the existing situation.
The entire analysis must be done in relation to competition: for example, the production of a high-quality product, if it is produced in abundance and by competition, is not a strength for the region, but a necessity.
Opportunities
- What are the opportunities that arise?
- What are the interesting trends that concern the business community, but also society, and that were born during and after the pandemic?
Useful opportunities may include:
- Changes in technology and markets, on a small or large scale
- Changes in state policy in various fields of interest.
- Formation of a new business climate that starts from a major business project in the area.
- Changes in social norms, population profiles, lifestyle changes.
- A thorough study of local events that are considered important over time.
A common approach to identifying opportunities is to review Strengths and explore their potential for opening up opportunities. At the same time, Weaknesses are examined and the possibility of exploiting the opportunity by eliminating them is explored. For example, reducing technology costs in a sector is an opportunity for an organization whose economy is heavily dependent on that sector.
Threats:
- Analysis of the competitive environment
- Development difficulties (financial environment, accessibility, difficulty of extroverted perspectives, etc.)
- Are there any changes in the specifications for the products or services already provided?
- Do technological changes threaten or nullify the region's existing economy?
- What obstacles usually appear?
- Do any of the Weaknesses pose a real threat to the region's economy?
The SWOT analysis contains both qualitative and quantitative elements and is considered an essential initial tool for understanding the reality in an area to be managed.
The program of events is already ready and is being adjusted according to the demand of the Chamber.
Note: Destination-Management.co reserves all rights to this proposal.
