23. SERVICES OFFERED BY THE CDI
THE CENTRE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY - CDI
The Centre for the Development of Industry (CDI) is a joint
ACP-EU institution financed by the European Development Fund (EDF), under the
provisions of the Lomé Convention concluded between the European Union (EU) and
the 70 ACP countries (African, Caribbean and Pacific).
It aims to facilitate and support the setting-up, expansion or
restructuring of ACP industrial projects through preferably long lasting ties of
cooperation between SMIs in ACP countries and businesses within the EU. Those
partnerships may be joint ventures, license and franchising agreements,
subcontracting agreements, etc.
Advice and financing of technical assistance at the different
stages of a project:
1. At the planning and assessment stage
- Assessment of initial proposals (projects
submitted by ACP entrepreneurs or proposals from EU firms).
- Search for EU or ACP partners.
- Contribution to travel expenses for the purposes of direct
contact between potential partners.
- Feasibility studies.
- Market surveys or studies of development potential in
promising sectors.
- Diagnostic studies for the rehabilitation, diversification,
privatisation or expansion of existing ACP businesses.
2. At the organisational stage
- Assistance with drawing up a financial package and
presenting it to the finance institutions.
- Advice on matters of technology and equipment and valuation of
second-hand equipment.
- Assistance with partnership negotiations and contracts for the
purchase of industrial equipment.
- In-plant inspection of the chosen equipment.
- Inspection of the equipment on delivery.
- Supervision of delivery procedures.
3. At the start-up and development stage
- Technical assistance for start-up.
- Management support.
- Technical training for staff and management.
- Export aid: for improving the product and its presentation,
marketing, exhibiting at trade fairs, designing advertising material, etc.
- Sourcing industrial information of various kinds.
4. Other services
- Organisation of ACP-EU inter-professional
meetings.
- Technical publications.
Procedure and requirements
- The CDI deals directly with businesses and
industrialists without passing through any official body.
- ACP companies can get in contact through the local CDI antenna
in any of the 70 ACP States (for a full list of addresses, contact the CDI
office in Brussels).
- European businesses can make contact via one of the
organisations in the CDI's network of EL) partner institutions (for a full list
of addresses, contact the CDI office in Brussels).
- Any company may also contact the CDI office in Brussels
directly.
- Basic data for assessment of projects to be furnished
according to the CDI's standard forms.
Timescale
The CDI takes a decision within 2 months of presentation of a
complete file.
Cost of the services
As a general principle, beneficiary promoters/enterprises should
contribute at least one-third of the total cost of the technical assistance
programme decided, whereas the CDI provides the remainder from its own or
related resources with the EU institutions which are members of the network as a
subsidy.
Limits
The CDI's financial contribution shall not exceed ECU 150,000
per beneficiary per year. Cumulated contributions over time to the same
project/enterprise must not exceed ECU 300,000 and must not exceed 20% of total
investment, except where pilot projects are concerned.
CDI
Centre for the Development of Industry
Avenue
Herrmann Debroux, 52
B - 1160 BRUSSELS
BELGIUM
Tel. +32 2 679 18
11
Fax +32 2 675 26 03
Telex 61427 cdi
b
