UNIDO Pharos Workshop in Ufa, Bashkortostan The UNIDO Pharos Training Workshop in Bashkortostan, Russian Federation was run accordingly to Agreement between UNIDO (Vienna) and Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Trade and Entrepreneurship of Republic Bashkortostan (MFERTE). The workshop took place in Bashkortostan Academy of State Administration and Management by the President of Bashkortostan Republic, Ufa city, on 17 - 18 July 2008. The objectives of the workshop were as follows: 1. Introducing entrepreneurs, executives and national consultants to applying UNIDO PHAROS Software suite for monitoring, management, measurement and benchmarking of business performance. 2. Reviewing existing UNIDO procedures and tools for preparing enterprises to investment and modernization programmes, benchmarking of key performance indicators used in UNIDO Pharos software suite as well as measuring / monitoring of the improvements achieved within the Programmes. 3. Identifying the candidates for national consulting to provide enterprises with further support in training and consulting. 4. Discussing the issues and results at the responsible levels of governmental and enterprises? administrations. 5. Carrying out an assessment of the training. The workshop was attended by 18 participants from different industrial enterprises, banks and governmental institutions. The trainees were welcomed by Mr. Ildar Ahmetshin, Deputy Minister, MFERTE opening the workshop. The speaker reviewed the Project history, on-going UNIDO activities in Bashkortostan, current status of collaboration between Bashkortostan and UNIDO, importance of effective preparing of Bashkortostan enterprises to investment and modernization programmes accordingly to best international practices using UNIDO methodology and Pharos software. The training session was run by Serge Golovanov, Director, EPIC. It began with overview of approaches to enterprise performance management, measurement and benchmarking, its importance for sustainable and productive business development in competitive business environment and analysis of capacity for investment. The detailed explanations and examples were presented why UNIDO Pharos software suite provides entrepreneurs and policy makers with unique opportunity for evaluation of achievements, it?s presenting to prospective investors, improving best practices and business culture continuously as well as developing reference models for enterprise and national wide levels. The applying of the tools requires minimum knowledge, costs, training of staff and changing of business processes. The workshop programme included major issues related to Pharos, FIT and Produce Plus software applications as well as some case studies developed in UNIDO upgrading programmes over the previous years. At the end of the workshop the participants received UNIDO certificates, took part in the final discussion, evaluation of the workshop results and formulation of conclusions. The UNIDO Pharos applications and training of entrepreneurs were discussed in the meeting with Mr. Boris Kolbin, Minister and Mr. Ildar Akhmetshin, Deputy Minister, MFERTE on 16.07.2008.  Photo: Meeting with Mr. B.Kolbin (left), Mr.S.Golovanov (right) The meetings with the management of several enterprises participated in the workshop took place after its end. Mr. Fanis Fathutdinov, Deputy Director for Finance and Ms. Enikeeva Rima, Chief Economist work at the "BashSelHoz Tehnika the State Industrial Enterprise" by Ministry of Agriculture of Bashkortostan. 
Photo: Mr. Fanis Fathutdinov (left), Ms. Enikeeva Rima and Mr. S.Golovanov (right) The Enterprise produces machines, machine-tools and machine spare parts for agriculture having 428 employees and turnover of about 26 Million Euros. The enterprise plans taking part in the Republican programme for establishing of High Technological Cluster producing middle size tractor for agriculture. Mr. Fathutdinov concluded the meeting with the comments as follows: I consider the UNIDO assistance in preparing enterprises to investment and modernization programmes as an important factor in enterprise upgrading to established levels of international competitiveness. UNIDO Pharos and FIT software are useful products for providing simple and effective benchmarking for improvement. It helps effectively in validation of applications for credits and investments accordingly to international practices. We should introduce it into daily routine of BashSelHoz Tehnika enterprise; establish best practices of monitoring business results and having the benchmarks easily available for meetings with potential investors at any time. Especially attractive is simplicity of the software operation and minimum data for input. The workshop programme can be reviewed here >>>. Download the workshop presentations: 1. Applying Pharos suite for improving capacity for investments and modernization (in Russian) 2. Conclusions Feedback | 
