Activity Report 2006
January 1 – December 31

1. Introduction

This activity report describes the activities and events implemented by SEDECK between January 1 and December 31, 2006. During the first six months we have received good collaboration of 10 Junior Small Business Analysts, who were scheduled to coach specially starters with mainly their business plans. We have noticed a diminishing interest to follow the courses that were announced. It may have to do with the course fee they have to pay now or lack of funds to properly promote the courses. In August SEDECK moved in a new facility at Amerikan Business Center, Mortiersweg 5. Currently, SEDECK is sharing that facility with ADECK and STIMUL-IT.

2.      Official Signing of Contract Land - Sedeck

In January 2006, the Government of the Netherlands Antilles through the Directorate of Economic Affairs signed a 3-year contract with SEDECK for ANG 196,070 each year. The picture below shows Minister Rosaria for Land and Gabriël Magdalena, president of SEDECK signing the documents.

3.      Official Visit of Commissioner Schotte at SEDECK

The Commissioner of Economic Affairs and Tourism, Mr. Gerrit Schotte, has been invited by the Board of SEDECK on March 23, 2006 as an official visit to get more acquainted to the organization. During this visit, Mr. Carl Camelia explained the Commissioner through a PowerPoint presentation that SEDECK works based on a mission where there should not be any unnecessary barriers for the clients. Furthermore Mr. Camelia explained that a positive economic impact could be created as a result of SEDECK’s activities and that these could be measured by outputs such as:

Ø  Increased new successful businesses

Ø  Increased jobs

Ø  Decreased unemployment

Ø  More export of local products

Ø  Increased tax revenues for the government

Ø Increased contribution to social premiums

The director of SEDECK, Mr. Agnel Douglas, in turn talked about the performance of SEDECK since its establishment and showed real figures to back this up. According to Mr. Douglas between 2002 and 2005 more than 740 clients received professional guidance at SEDECK, but financing of their businesses remains a huge obstacle for their progress. Mr. Douglas continued to say that based on his experience, quite a few small business projects or ideas do not become a reality because the financial institutions do not have a management policy specially tailored at micro and small businesses.

Commissioner Schotte has demonstrated to be aware of the prime necessity for the sector, which basically is the financing aspect at more favorable condition that benefits the micro and small business owner. The Commissioner said that he gained a valuable insight regarding the developments and needs for the micro and small businesses and that together with his department of economic affairs and his advisors, he will look into the problems that were presented. 

Visit Minister of Economic Affairs at SEDECK

On May 8, 2006 the Minister of Economic Affairs, Mr. Burney Elhage has made an official visit SEDECK. During this visit, the Board of SEDECK has presented a PowerPoint presentation about the organization and the Minister in turn has given some insights about his views with respect to the small business sector.

4.      SEDECK’s President Attends “2006 Small Business Dividend$ Award”

The President of SEDECK, Mr. Gabriël Magdalena, was invited by the State Director of the Florida Small Business Development Center Network (FSBDCN), Mr. Jerry Cartwright, as a special guest to attend the “2006 Small Business Dividend$ Award” that were given to Senator Bill Nelson at the United States capital, Washington D.C. Presentation of this acknowledgement was based on an initiative of the FSBDCN, which is celebrating its 30^th anniversary this year. Annually the small business organization holds such a reception to recognize a person that has done valuable work for the small businesses in Florida. In this case of Senator Bill Nelson, he was recognized as a person that has done an outstanding job for the benefit of small business all over the United States. Mr. Magdalena said that our participation at these kinds of events allows us to make valuable contacts that could be beneficial for the small business development in Curacao. For Mr. Jerry Cartwright, who also happens to be a board member of SEDECK representing the FSBDCN, it is very important to share their impact created on every dollar that was invested from federal funds into the small businesses and the economy of Florida as a whole. Finally, Mr. Magdalena said that it is very important to continue our presence at such events as these could serve to be valuable examples on how things could be accomplished here in Curacao.

8.2.            Business Plan Writing Course

During this period we offered 1 business plan writing course where 6 people participated. 

8.3.            Other Courses

SEDECK has offered 6 other courses with topic on administration, marketing and personal motivation where a total of 29 people participated and received their certificates.

Summary Table

The table below shows in a glance the planning for the year as well as the actual and projected reporting period figures.

10.  Office and administrative support

As usual the consultants of SEDECK help clients with office support activities for their business as well as financial administration set-up. This reporting period SEDECK has assisted around 5 starters with these activities.

11.  Student assistance

SEDECK also provides student assistance for those that need to write their final thesis and other who have to complete specific business assignment as a requirement for their study. This period the consultants of SEDECK have assisted 3 students with finding a research topic or with guidance and support. 

12.   Participation at FSBDCN Professional Development Conference

In June Ms. Maideline Martijn has participated at the annual professional development conference in Orlando, Florida. As always, during these conferences we get the opportunity to attend at some valuable training sessions about important business topics. The new knowledge and experience gained is shared with other consultants working for SEDECK so that they could also apply that knowledge in their day-to-day activities.

Experience of Ms M. Martijn at Conference:
The conference was very educational and the opportunity to learn and hear experiences of other consultants on the field was very valuable. The sessions at the conference served as a great motivation and provided new insights in how to guide a client. As a consultant it is not only necessary to interact with other consultants about matters that concern the quality of an advisory session, but also about matters on how to pass on the knowledge gained to your clients. During the conference the opportunity was also presented to gather information on the relationship of the university in Florida and the SBDC’s. During the second half of the year the staff will work on a proposal to improve that relationship so both parties will benefit from it completely. The new knowledge obtained during the workshops followed during the conference will be passed on to the other consultants during the second half on the year in the form of an in-house training”.

13.   Picture Gallery of Successful Entrepreneurs

In the month of October SEDECK has taken the initiative to come up with a picture gallery of successful entrepreneurs in the office building. The plan is to display this gallery of pictures in the left hallway when entering “Kas di Empresario”. Entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to portray themselves with their business in a wooden frame of approximately A3 format. and this will be placed in the Hall of Entrepreneurs. Underneath each picture a short version of the success story will be placed and also the name and business name of the entrepreneur. In return the entrepreneur pays a small monthly fee. Since this will be a fundraising event no exceptions to the participation rules will be made. If interest is high, the gallery could also be extended to the other hallways in “Kas di Empresario”. The goal of the project is to serve as an ongoing fundraising event for SEDECK while the success and business of the exhibited entrepreneurs will be promoted. During courses and events the entrepreneur may also be invited to tell his or her story to inspire others. We have contacted various established entrepreneurs with the idea to see if there was an interest to participate and we received some positive reaction, which made it worthwhile to continue the project. In 2007 we will continue contacting more entrepreneurs to see if we can launch this picture gallery in the first half of the year. In our next progress report we will provide an update about the developments of this project.

14. Sedeck’s new office space

With the move to a new facility, Sedeck has now a more spacious work place and with two seperate consulting rooms (booths). In addition to that Sedeck shares other facilities in the building such as a workshop room that could seat 80 people theater style, a computer room, a large and a small meeting room and a business library. The following are pictures of the office space and our senior consultant Maideline Martijn attending a client.

15.  Official Opening New Kas di Empresario”

On October 16, 2006 the new facility of “Kas di Empresario” by the Commissioner of Economic Affairs, Mr. Gerrit Schotte. This took place on the first day of the Week of the Entrepreneurs as a major event during that particular week. The pictures below show snap shots of  that celebration.

		Top row: The guests that were invited for the opening ceremony.
Middle row: Left: President of Sedeck Gabriel Magdalena accompanied by board members and the director during his opening address. Right: Commissioner Gerrit Schotte addressing the guests.

Bottom row: Left: Unveiling of the sign. Right: Official opening.

16. Workshops “Siman di Empresario”

During the week of the entrepreneur (Siman di Empresario), SEDECK has organized several workshops for the local small buisness community. The workshops were scheduled on two days. The 8 workshops on the first day provided valuable business knowledge for the business owners and entrepreneurs, whereas the 5 workshops on the second day dealt with supporting business information in matters such as SVB, taxes, insurance, banking and customs. The total attendance to all the workshops during this week were 301.

The following are some pictures of the workshops.

17.      Board meeting with Jerry Cartwright present

In the third week of October Jerry Cartwright, the State Director of  FSBDCN and board member of SEDECK, was in Curacao to help us promote the services of our SBDC to the local banks and also to the micro and small business community in general through informative radio programs.

18.      Personnel

SEDECK has closed the year with only one senior consultant in addition to the director. The free-lance consultant that worked all year on the SESNA financed projects could no longer continue since there were no funds available for advisory purposes and our part-time General Assistant also moved on to an other job opportunity in December. Most of the part-time student consultants that worked for SEDECK have been hired by other companies, which leaves us with a gap until others are properly trained in 2007.  

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