PFD News
December 2010: The "Dos and Don'ts" Seminar in Brussels, Belgium
Washington, DC, USA
PFD Group attended this year’s SNV Business Development (BD) Seminar in Brussels—November 30-December 2, 2010: Spiros Voyadzis addressed two sessions of SNV’s BD Seminar on the Dos and Don’ts needed to win contracts financed by targeted multilateral organizations. The Seminar was attended by about 25 officials from SNV’s worldwide business development management team.
For further information, contact Calie Rerodo at:
crerodo@pfdusllc.com or 202-785-0052
June 29-30 2009: The “Dos and Don'ts” Seminar in Thessaloniki and Athens, Greece
Washington, D.C., USA
This is the second phase of the seminar held in October 2008 and sponsored by the Greek Chamber of Commerce.
Around 30 Greek companies attended this panel discussion and presentation offered by the CEO of Partnerships for Finance and Development Spiros Voyadzis.
The two-day event was an opportunity to engage a productive dialogue on new approaches, on what a Greek company should do to win contracts funded by the World Bank and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. From FY03 through FY07, the number of contracts for international technical assistance won by Greek companies and funded by the World Bank reached some US$35.93 million in all regions, except in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Region (ECA). Therefore, the seminar was considered as a stimulus strategy for Greek companies in order to expand their markets at an international level.
For further information, contact Calie Rerodo at: crerodo@pfdusllc.com or 202-785-0052
April 2-3 2009: Tirana, Albania: Conference on Donor Coordination in Balkans and Turkey
The conference to discuss “Donor Coordination in Western Balkans and Turkey”—was an important event jointly organized by the Directorate General for Enlargement of the European Commission, the government of Albania and the Department for Strategy and Donor Coordination. All EU members and other donors in the area, including the World Bank contributed also to the success of this event.
The Conference was opened by Mr. Sali Berisha, Albania’s Prime Minister and Mrs. Marketa Fialkova the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Albania and the Mr. Michael Leigh the Director General for Enlargement.
Around 200 stakeholders (representatives of the countries in the Western Balkans and Turkey, of Aid agencies and financial institutions) discussed Aid efficiency, effectiveness, anti corruption, potential improvements as well as deficiencies to empower the Aid Coordination in the region.
The government of Albania, host of the conference, has achieved a lot over the last 2-3 years in aid coordination in Western Balkans and Turkey. In addition, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, B&H, FYROM and Turkey presented their achievements in aid coordination.
Spiros Voyadzis, as the Resident head of the Development Gateway Foundation International (DGF) in Brussels presented the Aid Management Platform, a Web-based information system created by DGF for governments and their development partners that helps track, report, and coordinate international aid flows. Spiros Voyadzis highlighted the activities and work achieved by Development Gateway Foundation, DGMarket and especially the work on AMPs, their goals and what DGF has learned by all implementations so far.
The international nonprofit organization is expecting to reach some 20 implementations by the end of year 2009 with mostly successes and “1 or 2 failures”.
Several country donors expressed their interest in the AMPs such as Kosovo, Serbia and B&H, particularly Albania. In addition, the European Commission is very much interested to support AMPs in the area.
The conference aims to discuss and make recommendations for three-key sectors in socioeconomic development in the Western Balkans and Turkey region: education, environment and transport.
Note that DGF was the only non country or donor delegation attending the two-day conference.
November 2008: The “Dos and Don'ts Seminar reaches Bolivia and Ecuador (LA region)
Washington, D.C., USA
The CEO of PFD Spiros Voyadzis, in collaboration with SNV, organized two events in Bolivia and Ecuador. After Germany, Spain, Greece, Mr. Voyadzis continues to convey the message among South American companies on How to win contracts funded by the World Bank (WB), the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC, the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) and the European Commission (EC).
These two events brought together over 50 attendees from SNV.
During each Seminar, Mr. Voyadzis gave a presentation of contracts won by Dutch, Bolivian and Ecuadorian firms and an overview of the LA region and sectors that benefit most from the World Bank, the MCC, the IADB and the EC lending.
From FY03 through FY08, the number of contracts for international technical assistance won by Bolivian companies and funded by the World Bank in the LA region went drastically down from 56 to 1. Same records have been registered for the Ecuadorian companies, which reflect the urgent need of advices on how to work with the major international Financial Institutions.
In 2008, lending by the World Bank Group in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region was a total of $ 4.7 Billion concentrated in 10 sectors. The major ones: 24% in Transportation, 18% in law and Justice and Public Administration, 10% Industry and Trade, 10% Water and sanitation, 11% Education, and 7% Agriculture and Fisheries.
The IADB concentrates its lending in 3 sectors: 62% in Competitiveness, 32% in Social Development, and 5% in Reform and Modernization of State.
In 2007, the EC invested a total of €159 Million in projects in Ecuador and €176 Million in Bolivia.
Congress has appropriated to MCC a total of $6.5 billion for FY04 through FY08. In 2008, MCC has to date committed nearly $ 6.3 billion with compact agreements signed with 18 countries and nearly $440 million to 19 threshold programs. However, neither Bolivia nor Ecuador was so far eligible for MCC Compact/Threshold.
Next seminar conducted by Mr. Spiros Voyadzis with the collaboration of SNV- Netherlands Development Organization is scheduled for February in Peru and El Salvador.
For further information, contact Calie Rerodo at: crerodo@pfdusllc.com or 202-785-0052
April 2008: Seminar in Cologne, Germany
Following the Barcelona seminar, Partnerships for Finance and Development, represented by its President, Spiros Voyadzis continues to convey the message among European companies on How to win contracts in the Infrastructure sector funded by the World Bank (WB) and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). About 13 companies attended the very useful seminar conducted by the German Office for Foreign Trade (BFAI).
In 2007, lending by the World Bank Group was a total of $24.7 Million concentrated in 10 sectors: law and justice and public and administration (22%), transportation (20%), water, sanitation and flood protection (12%), health and other social services (11%), education (8%), energy and mining (7%), agriculture, fishing and forestry (7%), finance (7%), industry and trade (5%), and information and communication (1%).
The number of contracts for international technical assistance won by German companies and funded by the World Bank has almost doubled from FY03 through FY07.
In addition, American Congress has appropriated a total of $5.99 billion for FY04 through FY07, under the program of the MCC. Today, 25 countries worldwide are eligible to receive grants from the MCC.
For more on the German Office for Foreign Trade, please visit: www.bfai.de
March 2008: Seminar in Barcelona, Spain
At the request of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Partnerships for Finance and Development coordinated a seminar on How to win contracts funded by the World Bank (WB) and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). About 20 Spanish companies and one Bank participated. The Seminar was conducted over one and one half days. The Seminar was very practical and down to earth on the “Dos and Do not’s” and on what a company needs to do to win contracts funded by the WB and MCC.
Mr. Spiros Voyadzis, CEO of Partnerships for Finance and Development gave a detailed presentation on how to compete in tenders for technical assistance projects financed by the World Bank the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Among the key issues addressed were the following: When to intervene during the project cycle for both the World Bank and the Millennium Challenge Corporation? How to get the max accurate and useful information? How to write a winning expression of interest? How to write a winning tender? Need to form consortia with local partners? Can a small company enter this market? Are references important? Need to focus both on business and geographic areas? What are the points of intervention and decision making?
Voyadzis said that the World Bank is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world.
During the Seminar, Mr. Voyadzis gave a presentation of contracts won by Spanish firms and an overview of the regions and sectors that benefit most from the World Bank lending. From FY03 through FY07, the number of contracts for international technical assistance won by Spanish companies and funded by the World Bank reached some US$378 million in all regions.
In 2007, lending by the World Bank Group was a total of $24.7 Million for six regions: Africa (24%), South Asia (23%), Latin America and the Caribbean (18%), East Asia and pacific (16%), Europe and Central Asia (15%) and Middle East and North Africa (4%).
The second organization highlighted during the seminar was the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a relatively new and independent US funded corporation managed by a CEO and overseen by a Board. The mission of the Millennium Challenge Corporation is: Poverty Reduction through Economic Growth.
Today, 25 countries worldwide are eligible to receive grants from the Millennium Challenge Corporation: Twelve countries in Africa, four in Latin America, and nine in Eurasia. Congress has appropriated a total of $5.99 billion for FY04 through FY07. MCC procurement is under ICB and parallels procurement under the WB. About half of commitments are for infrastructure and the remaining half for agriculture, rural development, environment and health.
For additional information, contact Calie Rerodo at: crerodo@pfdusllc.com or 202-785-0052
September 2006: PFD Group enters into a partnership with CFCO International
CFCO International facilitates business development, trade, technology transfer, intellectual property (IP)-commercialization and joint venture (JV)/strategic partnership initiatives for British, Irish and French companies seeking market expansion, as well as new sales and profit opportunities in the United States.
CFCO also provides professional services in the areas of specialist government relations, lobbying, international affairs and corporate communications support. We serve domestic and international clients involved in European-American business ventures. CFCO’s main business areas are:
- Strategic management
- Government relations/international affairs
- Communications/external relations
- Economic development
- Trade and investment support services
July 2006: PFD Group enters into a partnership with Public Capital Advisors, LLC
PCA services include the full range of sub-sovereign governments, from those with no experience in capital markets to those with substantial experience. For new issuers, PCA plan financing practices that will set them on the path toward maximizing their strengths. For experienced issuers, PCA position their financial strengths to minimize capital costs. Accessing and lowering the cost of capital require a number of critical steps, many of which are the focus of PCA services:
- Development of a comprehensive financial plan
- Acquisition of the highest possible credit rating
- Negotiation of favorable terms for credit enhancement
- Identification of potential support from international financial institutions
- Selection of effective underwriters
- Aggressive negotiation of securities sales
- Cultivating relationships with investors, rating agencies and credit enhancers
Their examination of financial strengths enables governments to choose the most cost effective vehicle for market access. This choice considers credit capacity of enterprise funds and sub-sovereign governments, as well as the efficacy of inaugurating new issuers of securities.
For more about Public Capital Advisors, please visit: www.publiccapitaladvisors.com.
July 2006: PFD Group expands to India, partnering with Infrastructure Professional Enterprise (IPE) Ltd.
IPE has implemented projects in India, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Palestine, Vietnam and United Kingdom for International support agencies like DFID, USAID, ADB, JBIC, JICA, World Bank, DANIDA, African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) Zimbabwe, UNDP, GTZ as well as governments (centre, state and local). IPE has offices in India (six) and the UK.
IPE provides expertise in the following fields: Urban Development, Social Development, Public Management, Capacity Building and Monitoring & Evaluation.
November 2005: PFD Group expands to Bangladesh, Partnering with Survey Research Group of Bangladesh (SRGB)
The Survey Research Group of Bangladesh [SRGB] was initiated in October 1987 as a Management and Industrial Consulting house. Its professional integrity and service excellence rapidly gained a lasting reputation for delivering result-oriented consultancy services. Subsequently, activities were diversified to provide development consultancy, continuing professional development programs, data processing and analysis and event management services. Since the early 90s, SRGB has ventured into providing Qualitative and Quantitative Research Services. Since then SRGB has successfully conducted hundreds of studies ranging from broad based sectoral studies to micro level case studies for domestic and international clients.
September 2005: PFD Group expands to Jordan, partnering with MMIS Management Consultants
MMIS provides full scope management consulting services to government, non-profit and private organizations in various areas including Project Management, Strategic and Business Planning, Policy Support and Institutional Development, Sectoral Studies, Socio-Economic Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, Market Research and Analysis, Market Studies and Marketing Strategies, Financial Feasibility Analysis, Business Valuation and Assessment of Worth, Feasibility Studies, Work and Performance Management, Business Process Re-Engineering, Operations Management, Prospectus, Total Quality Management, Organization and Human Resource Management, Recruitment, and Training. MMIS serves a diverse clientele, including private and public sector institutions, and covers a wide range of businesses, industries, and services. Since its establishment in Jordan 18 years ago, MMIS has concluded over 1,000 assignments for around 300 local, regional and multinational clients.
October 2004: IDPA Joins PFD USA, Forming Large Team of Experts in Washington, D.C.
This recent partnership enables IDPA and the PFD Group to join forces, doubling their number of experts in Washington D.C. This alliance benefits our clients by bringing in complimentary areas of expertise such as economics, pension and social security. IDPA also offers additional expertise in working in Asia and with the Asian Development Bank. The alliance has also recently expanded its clients’ base with several construction companies - giving our clients access to a pool of potential partners with expertise in roads, rail, ports, power generation and transmission, tunnels, bridges, water/sanitation, and irrigation - all of which are targeted to become growth sectors worldwide.
September 2004: PFD Network Reaches Egypt
Our exciting partnership with IQ Management Consultants in Cairo, Egypt, is signed. This partnership gives the Group an extraordinary edge by covering the Middle East, the Gulf countries and Yemen.
May 2004: The PFD Group Brings dgMarket to Greece
Expanding on the dgMarket (Development Gateway Market) in Turkey, the PFD Group is now pleased to offer this service in Greece. Our local partner, The Kalofolias Group, maintains the site and makes it available in Greek.
March 2003: The PFD Group Offers dgMarket in Turkey
The Group has invested in the dgMarket (Development Gateway Market) in Turkey and holds its World Bank Group license. The dgMarket is a web-based solution giving access to all current EOIs and tenders (over 45,000) financed by the IFIs. The site is managed by our local partners and the service provided in Turkish. The site is updated regularly, giving our clients timely information on companies that bid in areas of interest.
February 2002: The PFD Group Expands to Turkey
The Group expanded its operations to Turkey with the creation of PFD Turkey. The office in Istanbul provides our clients with access to local bidding opportunities and partners.
