Association of Entrepreneurs "Rajka Péter"

problems in addressing the challenges of the market economy


Objectives:
- promoting cooperation (organizations, chambers of commerce, associations in support of SME's, foundations, business centers, clubs etc.
- improving professional training in SME's (training programs)
- ensuring up-to-date information - consulting in economics, legislation, finance, banks, accounting, tax systems.

Main accomplishments:
- during four years of activity the association has worked in support of small and medium-sized enterprises, creating the economic-legislative data base
- permanent consulting in economic legislation for AIRP members (over 100 people/year)
- promoting loan grating for SME's, AIRP has produced tens of feasibility reports, contributing in this way to increasing the effiencey of enterprises and decreasing the risk of bankruptcy
- organizing business meetings in Romania and abroad for hundreds of members and the people interested
- intensive training programs in management and marketing and consulting
- newsletters for consolidating the network and informing - by mail, with demands and offers
- office equipment has been bought thanks to donations, for the fast and good services to members (phone/fax, photocopier, printer, computer)
- increasing the activity in the rural field, development of disfavored areas, project on rural economic activity

The socio economic development of the Huedin - Izvorul Crişului Microregion

General objective:
a) evaluation and mobilization of the potential for development for the Huedin -Izvorul Crisului Microregion
- socio economic diagnosis of the situation in the area
- initiation of partnership and structured dialogue between the actors in the area
- territorial - vertical partnership; between the communities in the area and the county region and the state authorities
- sectorial-horizontal partnership: at the communitary level between different sections (administration, economy, civil organizations, homes/individuals)
- supporting the development of agrotourism as a complementary activity with direct and indirect influence on local development
b) gaining experience that will allow the integration of microregion in the SAPARD projects in view of realizing, promoting and using efficiently the human and material resources in the region
c) strengthening the local communities through interethnic cooperation

Objectives
- maintaining the rural population
- increasing the income of individuals/homes in the microregion
- diversifying and promoting employment in rural areas
- improving the standard of living/quality of life
- cultivating the sense of identity and local responsibility
- extending the response over the entire microregion so that the solving of the local problems, according to the interest of the area is carried out through cooperation
- editing a rural tourist guidebook
- editing the lectures of the international symposium and the synthesis of the results of research in the area
Main activities:
- organizing a training program in agrotourism
- writing a bilingual tourist monography
- editing the volume "Regional and rural development -ideas and practices"
- organizing a forum of the region

Achieving the general objective of the project:
- the evaluation and mobilization of the development potential of the region . statistic data were gathered from all sources. 500 socio-economic questionnaires were filled in for a fundamental analysis of the real development opportunities in the region. The information was gathered in a unitary material which will be the basis of future projects, facilitating access to funding sources. Beside the initial objectives, we also established a database which will be available to specialists and students for practical and/or didactic purpose
- a partnership and structural dialogue was established between the actors in the region; local authorities, the civil sector, entrepreneurs, all sharing an interests in the development of the region
- the territorial vertical partnership was established between the communities in the region, the county and region authorities, raising their awareness about the necessity of creating a clear strategy for sustainable development
- the sectorial horizontal partnership : every time there was a village meeting or a private talk with the local activists, the necessity was stressed to reunite the mobilizing forces in order to go beyond the individual struggle.
- supporting the development of agrotourism, as a complementary activity with direct or indirect influence on local development. An example: the training program in agrotourism reunited hosts, local travel agents, representatives of local authorities and of civil society organizations. The necessity for cooperation between all these sectors was stressed.
- law 157/22sept.200 referring to the National Plan for Agriculture and Rural Development, linked to SAPARD for co-financing from the state budget created the legal framework that can benefit the microregion, gaining experience that would permit the projects for the realization, promotion and efficient use of the human and material resources in the region. The emergency ordinance no. 421/21 December 200 established the SAPARD agency subordinated to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food
- the strengthening of the local communities through interethnic cooperation was carried out though exchanges, the sustainable result being their decision to create an association of the mayors in the area
AIRP carries out its activity in a rented office in the center of the Cluj, 200 m from the Chamber of commerce struggling with great financial difficulties. We hope that our existence will continue to be of use to the entrepreneurs in the area
We think that in the 4 years of work we have gained experience and professionalism in serving the SMEs and we are open to future cooperation.

Farkas Mária

Rajka Péter Association

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