Montpellier : a united export front

As a result, in 2002, the first business incubator for international companies was established on the site of Montpellier airport. To help it develop this project, the CCI has built up an effective institutional network and the steering committee includes the Regional Council for the Hérault, the DRTEFP (Regional department for employment and training), the Regional Council for the Languedoc-Roussillon, Coface, and the CRCI (Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry). In practical terms, the structure is, in the words of Dominique Andreani, « a way of grouping exports ». Several VSEs and/or SMEs from the same sector - who are not competitors - join forces and form a not-for-profit Association under the terms of the 1901 Law to prospect the same zone or country for a minimum of one year.

Strength in unity
So what are the advantages of the system? Companies are assisted at international level by the business incubator, from the creation of an export department to the generation of turnover for this new branch of activity. The member companies share the cost of recruiting an export manager who divides his time between them. « For 2 years, he has an office free of charge within the incubator, benefiting from its structure, synergy with the other managers, and, of course, its supervision. The member companies benefit from time and cost savings », explains Dominique Andreani upon whose initiative this tool was created and who is in charge of monitoring its progress. The CCIM was called upon to share its experience as soon as the export groups were created and the method now exists in Belgium.

In the Hérault, several SMEs have taken up the challenge. Gasp’Art, for example, represents three companies specialising in interior decoration: Pescatore (furniture and objects), Arguel (bed linen and furnishing fabrics) and Galtié (pottery). Shared costs, general satisfaction with the export manager, and economic prospecting abroad guided by Coface … the company directors have no regrets. The success of the Montpellier experiment has led to government initiatives. Renaud Dutreil, Minister for the SMEs, Trade, Small-scale industry and the Professions, launched an appeal in March for candidates to form SME Groups. They have until May 20th to apply.