The Business Country Desk (BCD), a regional initiative designed by BUSINESSMED and implemented within the framework of the EBSOMED project, was introduced Online on 12 January 2021.

The BCD will serve the business community in the future and will act as the regional online tool and database of contacts at macro, meso and micro level, following a multidimensional and multi-stakeholders’ approach, opening up more inclusive and more sustainable growth prospects.

In this framework, BUSINESSMED through the Business Country Desk Platform, will provide free digital services to SMEs via three main services: Partnerships, Business Helpdesk and the Matching tool.

These three functions will enable SMEs and investors access potential markets, trade for good and services in an easily way including:

1. A Business events-focused tool with Intent-based matchmaking that align with attendees’ goals;
2. SME-friendly digital tools to reduce the digital skills shortage in the region through ad hoc capacity building and mentoring sessions;
3. The access to macro-economic information of the country of region, current amendments on the investments and trade regulatory frameworks of the Southern Neighbourhood countries;
4. An intuitive directory combined with a multi-criteria search engine by country of origin and client requested.

The event has been covered by a large number of international media. A report summarizing this coverage is available at the end of this article.