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The European Commission`s Directorate-General for Trade highlighted EuroChile as an institution which supports European SMEs developing their new business, seeking partners through networks. In the February edition of the Market Access Newsletter, Martine Diss, Head of Unit, Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI), stated that EuroChile is one example of how SMEs can benefit from the Enterprise Europe Network – ”it’s helped around 340 European SMEs do business there,” says Diss. “Exports from the EU to Chile have doubled between 2002 and 2008, thanks in part to EuroChile’s work". Chilean and European SMEs who want to access international markets can start a little nearer to home – by contacting their local Enterprise Europe Network Partner. The Network offers support and advice to 2,5 million European small businesses, helping them to make the most of business opportunities beyond national and EU borders. The Network is the world’s largest, comprising 600 Partners in more than 40 countries, including the EU27, other European countries, Middle-Eastern countries, Armenia, Russia, China, the US and Chile, through EuroChile. Partner organisations of the Enterprise Europe Network include chambers of commerce, enterprise agencies, regional development organisations, research institutes, universities, technology centres and innovation centres. Strongly rooted in local communities, regions across Europe and its partners, the Network provides information on EU legislation and funding, helps companies find business partners in other countries, and offers advice on how to develop an innovative idea or technology. Wherever an SME is, it´s on hand with practical support in their language. The Enterprise Europe Network is an initiative of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry. Its operational activities are managed by the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation. It is funded under the 7th Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme. In the same newsletter, EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton stated that it is fundamental - in the scenario of the current economic crisis - to continue supporting free trade against the voices that feel the pressure to move to shield their national economy with tariffs and non-tariffs barriers. ”An escalation of new protectionist measures will carry a real risk of a widespread protectionist backlash. The only result of this in my view would be an even larger decline in world trade” – says Ashton. Therefore, the challenge is to banish the forces of protectionism, basing on the right to protect the opportunity of the European citizens to generate richness through free trade.
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