Starting on 15 November 2021 and ending on 15 October 2023, the "Increasing the International Competitiveness of SMEs and Workforce Project" is implemented in cooperation with the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ) and Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce (GTO) within the scope of the PEP - Promoting Economic Opportunities Program funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The main objectives of How to be International / Increasing the International Competitiveness of SMEs and Workforce Project;

To increase the foreign trade capacities of Turkish and Syrian SMEs operating in the field of foreign trade in Gaziantep,
To increase the employability of Turkish and Syrian individuals in Gaziantep by providing them with competencies in the fields of "Foreign Trade", "International Trade Intelligence" and "Foreign Trade English", thus creating a qualified workforce of Turkish and Syrian qualified labor force to work as "Foreign Trade Specialist" in foreign trade companies in Gaziantep that need qualified labor force,
To increase the digitalization capacity of Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce to better adapt and respond to the consulting needs of its member companies.

How to be International Project;

To support 50 SMEs operating in the field of foreign trade in Gaziantep by increasing their export capacity,
To increase the employability of 108 people in Gaziantep by improving their qualifications in the field of "Foreign Trade",
Increasing the capacity of the Foreign Trade Intelligence Unit of Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce by providing capacity building support to 2 experts to establish a sustainable service structure for SMEs,
In order to improve all member services, including the support services provided to member companies for foreign trade, Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce is working on developing the digital infrastructure to track and monitor its strategic goals and business plans.

Core Activities

1.Foreign Trade Intelligence Service for 50 pilot SMEs
2.Organizing Foreign Trade, Applied Market Research and Foreign Trade English trainings for 108 individuals, 
3.Creation of a "strategic plan on digital monitoring program" to be used by the Chamber,
4.Increasing the capacity of GTO Foreign Trade Intelligence Unit.
The Foreign Trade Intelligence Center within the Chamber provides consultancy to SMEs in foreign trade activities, finding new markets and customers and aims to increase the export capacity of enterprises. Through this service, GTO has started to provide a systematic, direct and comprehensive service to its member companies, such as identifying target markets, suppliers and customers, implementing trade intelligence activities, providing detailed information on foreign trade legislation and providing opportunities to follow international tenders within the scope of foreign trade activities.

5.Online database subscriptions 
Subscriptions were made to websites/international databases that are actively used to provide information on trade intelligence. Databases such as Tendata, D&B Hoovers, Panjiva, BVD Orbis, Tradeatlas, etc., which are the most valuable trade intelligence channels, are used as the key to finding emerging markets for companies.

6.B2B (Bilateral Business Meetings) Organization
It is aimed to bring together companies that want to expand their foreign trade capacity with importer companies participating from various countries of the world and to improve the capacity of exporter companies from Gaziantep. The organization, the first of which was held in the food sector in 2022, will continue to be held in 2023 by including different sectors.

7.Career Day 
During the project, a career day was organized to bring together 108 individuals who gained competence in the field of foreign trade and became "Foreign Trade Experts" and SMEs in need of qualified labor in the same field.

8.The job placement process of 86 out of 108 individuals who completed the trainings
Within the scope of the project, 50 people who completed their training within the scope of the project were placed in jobs in GTO member enterprises in the field of foreign trade in 2022 by covering the first 5 months gross wage from the project.

The employment process of 36 people has started as of 2023, and 50% of the gross minimum wage of these 36 people for 5 months will be covered by the project resources.