While SMEs play an increasingly important role in mobilizing resources for development and in providing solutions poverty reduction and job creation in Vietnam, the majority of them are facing difficulties amid the current global economic downturn. Pressed by hardships in markets and credits, SME exporters have to tighten their already limited budget for staff training and development, which leads to a vicious circle of poorly-trained, unqualified human resources threatening to undermine their competitiveness and increasing their fragility in the already competitive global market. 

Responding to the pressing needs of Vietnamese SME exporters for staff training, the newly launched Online Management Training program offered by OCD will provide companies customised e-learning solutions that are relevant, cost-effective and flexible. E-learning saves training costs by as much as 60% for companies, thus enabling more pervasive training in the companies at reduced cost and helping them to make better use of their existing IT facilities. 
The GCF-funded project "Improving the competitiveness of Vietnamese SME exporters through innovative e-learning solutions" would enable Vietnamese SME exporters to benefit from a balanced combination of international expertise, local insight and flexible learning methods, while keeping their training budget under control and making the best use of their ICT infrastructure. 

The Online Management Training program for SME exporters will, at the project stage, have a special focus on meet the training needs of SME exporters in the four GCF-supported provinces: Ha Tay (now merged with Hanoi), Nghe An, Lam Dong and Khanh Hoa, by developing two specific training modules, one targeted at handicraft exporters and craft villages in Ha Tay and Nghe An, and one for food and agriculture product exporters in Lam Dong and Khanh Hoa provinces. After the project stage, the program will be expanded to other business clients.

The project will last for 18 months commencing December 2008 with a budget of over VND 8.2 billion (approx. USD 482,000), of which OCD's cost-sharing commitment is 25% and the remainder is GCF's grant.

About OCD: Established in 2003, Organizational Capacity Development JSC (OCD) is a Vietnamese company specialized in providing management consulting and training to businesses and organizations in Vietnam, with high level of professionalism, applicability and quality. More information about OCD can be found on the company website: www.ocd.com.vn .

Information on the Online Management Trainining program is regularly updated on the e-learning portals:www.businesstraining.vn and www.daotaoquanly.vn.