Information about IntEnt
Is IntEnt the right choice for you?
The countries
The approach of IntEnt
Finance
Costs
Information about IntEnt
Why and how has IntEnt been founded?
In the 90s The Ministry of Foreign Affairs received many questions from different organisations and interest groups about ‘stimulating entrepreneurship amongst migrants.’
IntEnt was created at the request of the former minister of International Development, J.P. Pronk. A department of the Ministry of International Development was looking for instruments to stimulate business. This department, which received many questions from individuals, came to the conclusion that the subject was not part of their work domain.
FACET B.V. made a proposal that was accepted by the department of International Development. The proposal concerned a program for supporting individual migrant entrepreneurs who wish to start their independent businesses or joint ventures with existing companies in the country of origin.
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When and by whom has IntEnt been founded?
Officially the organisation IntEnt has been founded on the 28th November of 1996. In September 1997, IntEnt started the first pilot group. IntEnt has been founded by SEON, FACET BV and Triodosbank.
FACET is an advisory organisation, specialised in the development of micro and small businesses. They provide services in support of the private sector in development countries and transitional countries in Central and East Europe.
SEON (Social Economical Entrepreneurship in the Netherlands) offers advice to small and middle size companies, group training and personal advice for entrepreneurs who wish to start their own company in the Netherlands. The methods that IntEnt uses have been developed by SEON.
Triodos Bank is an independent, Dutch bank, active in 30 developing countries. Together with IntEnt it manages the IntEnt Guaranty Fund. This Bank also finances companies as well as projects with a social added value.
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Who provides finance to IntEnt?
IntEnt is supported by different organisations. The Minister of International Development supports IntEnt as well as Ministery of Foreign Affairs, the organisation Hivos and the European Union. The Dienst Economische Zaken Curacao specifically provides support to the IntEnt Curacao programme and finally NCDO supports a few specific campaigns.
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Is IntEnt the right choice for you?
Who is targeted by IntEnt?
IntEnt focuses on entrepreneurs who, on the basis of developed or present entrepreneurship qualities, would like to contribute to the social economical development of the society. Attention is mostly being paid to entrepreneurs that have less access to the existing means of promotion for investment and support for entrepreneurship.
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Is IntEnt a remigration programme?
Intent is not a remigration programme. IntEnt is all about entrepreneurship with an international dimension. IntEnt provides support to entrepreneurs in the Netherlands that would like to set up a new business in one of the programme countries. The initiative to do this comes from the entrepreneur himself.
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Can people who have already started their own company also approach IntEnt?
We provide support when you want to start a company in one of our programme countries. It is fine if you already have or have had a business there. A Dutch established entrepreneur could also start a join venture with a company in one of the programme countries. This means that two or more parties decide to undertake an economic activity together.
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Which advice does Intent give to starting entrepreneurs?
Be well informed. Use as many information sources as possible. If you know what you want, start off with a plan. If your financial situation is weak, start saving money and figure out how you could increase your capital. Try to get people from your surroundings to be enthusiastic about your idea. They might be willing to invest in one way or another in your plan.
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The countries
Why seven programme countries? Surinam, Ghana, Turkey, Morocco, Ethiopia, Afghanistan and Curacao.
The largest group of migrants in the Netherlands have been taken into account when choosing Morocco, Turkey and Surinam. Further at that time (1996) the Ministry received many letters and requests from other organisations about the return of programs for Ethiopia and Ghana. At the request of the former minister of International Development, Ghana has been added as programme country. In 2003, Curacao was added because migrants and migrant organisations wanted to seize the opportunities there and saw the success they had in Surinam. In 2004 Ethiopia and Afghanistan were added to support the reconstruction of the private sector in these countries.
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What if I want to start a business in another country than these seven?
Entrepreneurs from other countries than these seven programme countries can not be supported by the IntEnt programme. However it is important to show you interest when you wish to start a company in another country than one of the seven programme countries. Indeed, if there is a strong interest for a certain country, IntEnt can try to set up a programme. At the moment IntEnt is researching the possibilities for extension with countries in the Great Lakes region in East Africa.
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The approach of IntEnt
How much time do I need to start a company?
The time required by the entrepreneur to make a final decision and start a business in a developing country is between a year and a half and two years. The experience of the last years has shown this. Of course, if you are well prepared you might manage it faster.
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How does IntEnt work?
The way that IntEnt works and its methodologies are entirely based on ideas of entrepreneurship (development). The starting point is the triangle of (entrepreneurship) attitude, (management) skills and (technical) knowledge. IntEnt focuses on ‘Attitude’ and ‘Skills’ from the triangle. ‘Knowledge’ of the sector in which the potential entrepreneur wants to work is supposed to be present anyway.
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Which problems do starting entrepreneurs encounter?
- Credit limitations and high interest rate at local banks in the developing countries.
- Bureaucracy, asking the required permits and documents is time consuming.
- Not familiar with the procedures and market in the developing country.
- No up dated statistical information.
- Sometimes an unstable political, economical and security situation.
- Having to get used to a different culture.
- IntEnt can help you solving most of the problems thanks to the professional support and contact in the programme countries.
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What are the responsibilities of the coordination offices?
- In each programme country, IntEnt has a coordination office that executes work for IntEnt. They support you when you are in the country where you want to start your company;
- Advising and supporting during market explorations.
- Advice and support before, during and after the start.
- Supporting and monitoring company advisors for starting entrepreneurs.
- Promotion of the IntEnt programmes in the country.
- Maintain contact with the participating banks.
- Collect relevant background information about the political and economical situation.
- Introduction of IntEnt at relevant local parties (interest organisation, local authorities, banks, government officials).
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Finance
Does IntEnt finance your business idea?
No, IntEnt does not finance business plans. IntEnt provides support for the mediation to get finance. IntEnt has an extensive network composed of banks and financial institutions in the different programme countries. However these always decide themselves whether they want to give financial support or not for your business plan.
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Does IntEnt provide subsidies?
No, IntEnt does not provide subsidies. Exceptionally IntEnt can provide support for instance for additional training (sales training, administrative training, skill straining). In that case IntEnt might reimburse 75% of the expenses.
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Does IntEnt provide additional bank guarantees?
Yes, in certain cases IntEnt can provide a bank guarantee. IntEnt has a Credit Guarantee Fund. This Fund can give a guarantee in case you do not have a security pledge. If for instance you need € 40.000, - to finance your business plan and if you can bring in a maximum of € 30.000, - (such as savings, house or ground), then you still need a loan of € 10.000,-. IntEnt can then assure guarantee for you for the missing € 10.000, - at the bank where you get your loan.
You will get the loan and do the repayment by following the usual procedures. You will pay the interests and the amount of money back to the bank. It is up to the bank whether they give you a loan. IntEnt can only provide support by giving a guarantee to get the loan. Please note that bank guarantees are only accepted for the following countries: Ghana, Surinam, Curacao, Morocco and Turkey.
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Costs
How much do the service of IntEnt cost?
The services of IntEnt are subsidised. This means cost of the services of IntEnt have been reduced. The real costs of IntEnt are higher. Click here for an overview of the costs. |