The report presented (VIENNA, 14 November 2011) by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) establishes a new Connectedness Index, the first attempt to measure knowledge networks for private sector policy.

Switzerland topped the global ranking, followed by Sweden, The Netherlands, the United States, Finland, Singapore, Norway, Canada, the UK, France, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, the Czech Republic, New Zealand, Israel, Slovenia, the Republic of Korea, and Thailand.

Titled Networks for prosperity: achieving development goals through knowledge sharing, the report was funded by the Spanish MDG Achievement Fund (MDG-F) as part of a project that aims to establish a global knowledge system for private sector development. The report lays the basis for policy recommendations that will help developing countries acquire and adapt private sector development know-how.

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Networks for Prosperity demonstrates that the ‘connectedness’ of a country has a strong positive relationship with various measures for its economic performance, justifying the growing interest of policy-makers in knowledge networks. Specific issues related to the governance of international, inter-organizational and intra-organizational networks are discussed in separate chapters. These are illustrated with detailed examples from twelve countries: Bolivia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Panama, Peru, Serbia, Turkey and Viet Nam, all of which are currently implementing MDG-F private sector development programmes.

The report has been jointly produced by UNIDO and the Centre for Global Governance Studies in Leuven, Belgium, under the overall umbrella of the MDG-F, with inputs from various public and private institutions in more than fifteen countries as well as contributions from programme managers, practitioners and experts.

“This report shows that new networks are emerging as a distinct form of governance to meet ever-changing policy challenges in international development. It establishes for the first time a Connectedness Index covering a wide range of countries and correlating strongly with indicators on government effectiveness, regularity quality, industrial development and economic development. The report provides solid recommendations on the next steps to be taken in deepening this index, and in leveraging the role of networks for private sector development,” said UNIDO Director-General, Kandeh K. Yumkella.

Spain’s Secretary of State for International Development Cooperation, Soraya Rodriguez Ramos, recalled that in 2006, the U.N. and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation signed a landmark agreement to programme EUR 528 million towards key development goals and related development goals in select sectors and countries.

“With this support, the Government of Spain is demonstrating its commitment to international development and to a strengthened multilateral system, and U.N. in particular. Knowledge management and knowledge networks are crucial elements in order to exchange information and experiences that consolidates good practices that are generated through MDG-F joint programme implementation which can then be used for future initiatives,” said Ramos.

The Director of the MDG Achievement Fund, Sophie de Caen, added: “New and innovative solutions will be needed to overcome development challenges as we approach 2015. Networks for Prosperity provides solid recommendations for such solutions in the area of Development and the Private Sector. I look forward to the implementation of these proposals in the next phase of the programme, and to the further strengthening of our global partnership for development.”

While not a new phenomenon, knowledge networking and network governance have gained importance with the rapid globalization in all spheres of our societies: economic success, social cohesion and environmental sustainability in a country depends more than ever on the performance and behaviour of its neighbours, regional leaders and global economic powers. Knowledge about these, with a focus on the driver of development, private enterprise, has therefore become of crucial importance, and knowledge management and knowledge networking are important topics for change agents and policymakers.

The publication will also be presented in Brussels, Busan and New York.

Go here to download or read online the full report and executive summary and for more information

To download the statement of Miroslava Beham, Ambassador of Serbia, click here

To download the statement of Carmen Buján Freire, Ambassador of Spain, click here

To download the statement of Jan Wouters, University of Leuven click here

UNIDO – Networks for prosperity is a post from: Chris Plant, creative images

Social media allows us to share our interests, express our views and stay in touch with our friends, businesses and even the world if we so chose.

So it comes to me as a great surprise when I speak to some people and business’s who do not recognise the importance of this channel of communication. They often dismiss it as a new fad or a waste of valuable productive time, they believe (as also did I at one stage) that their employees are mis-using valuable resources on a pointless posting of “where you are” or “what you are currently up to”.

Please do not be too quick to dismiss social media, only because it sounds frightening or perhaps one doesn’t quite understand it, we can be educated on new solutions that in the future eventually become “everyday tasks”, we do not need to be afraid of change. I can understand the fear, perhaps the feeling of lack of privacy, will I have stalkers? Maybe there could be inappropriate behavior and our secrets or family lives could be exposed to anyone or everyone, especially if we are in a position of responsibility.

The fact of the matter is as follows:

1. Social Media is very important in today’s business age and if your business is cutting edge it needs to utilise social media.

2. One needs to be weary, but by using the security settings and a little vigilance, we can protect ourselves from any unwanted exposure.

3. Be sure this is not a fad, it is a new way of life, there is much to be gained by joining this social media revolution.

With these points in mind one not need to be afraid of this fairly new method of communication, we should embrace it and let it assist our personal and business activities.

Mistakes can and will of course be made. We have all sent an email to the wrong person at one time or another, with perhaps only a little embarrassment but in worst cases they may have had catastrophic business implications. The same is possible with social media, so be careful but do not be timid.

I believe management whom decide to ban or impose restrictions on social media in the work place or individuals that decide that Facebook or google+ is not for them will find that in the long run they are the ones that will be in the dark, be left behind by technology, friends and find that their business lacks a cutting edge that is needed in today’s competitive market.

Let me give you an example of driving business; I wrote this article for instance, then I uploaded it to my blog, I then created an “awareness post” as I call it, either on twitter or perhaps facebook etc. This post/tweet has larger exposure to many more people than my company blog could reach. It reaches my friends and my business contact, perhaps the tweet is connected to my linked-in account or my google+ page. Be sure that whichever thread I choose, exposure of my post grows and any people that may find it interesting or helpful will read it. This will prove all these quick links have fulfilled a task and have driven interest back to my blog and ultimately my business which may not make a gain today, maybe not tomorrow, however in the future someone may “LIKE” or appreciate what I had to say today.

So my message is simple… embrace the art of social media, enjoy reading articles and posts from your family, peers and your colleagues. Strive to make a difference, your voice will be heard and if not by tens of thousands of people perhaps by just ten or only one, but someone will get YOUR message, join YOUR cause, buy YOUR product or simply “LIKE” what you have suggested. Move forward, oh and “LIKE” this too…

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Why Social Media? Is it for me? is a post from: Chris Plant, creative images

You will need one laptop, one ipad 2, the application facetime and a wireless internet connection.

Place your laptop in your room in front of said children. Make sure it is attached to the electricity supply or you wont be out long.
You will need to put a light on in the room, or the camera in your laptop will not see your sleeping children.

Once set up, switch brightness down to the lowest setting, your monitor will now look as though it is off. In the meantime open FaceTime on your iPad and call yourself, the laptop’s FaceTime will ring. It may not work immediately but after a short pause it will.

Answer your call on the laptop, you may have to switch on the brightness momentarily. Careful that your iPad is not too close to your laptop as the feedback will be nasty.

Make sure you press “mute” on your ipad so not to allow the children to hear you. If they do wake suddenly one of you can talk to them, this is done by deactivating “mute” as the other quickly returns to the room.

All done? Now you are free to walk off with your iPad around the hotel and test.

I tested the area first to know where the weak areas of wifi were or any blackout spots.
If you cannot get to the bar or restaurant with an intact signal, one of you will have to stay in the room and call the other once they are in position. 

I like to have the baby matress monitor on, as it has a light, this is useful as you can see the light flashing so it gives you a “realtime” perspective and you know the picture has not frozen.

That’s it! Good luck and have a nice evening.

Ipad and facetime… I spy with my little eye… Baby monitor! is a post from: Chris Plant, creative images

Creative images won this contract in November 2010, it  was a long project and very complex. Please look at the posters below for further information. Printing is currently in process and the project will be delivered on March 31st.

First Aid Kit for use by First responders in addressing Human Trafficking is a post from: Chris Plant, creative images

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ISPO & FLEXFIT 2011 – Day 02 is a post from: Chris Plant, creative images

for further details please click here

Get your new Marketing Toolkit here! is a post from: Chris Plant, creative images

The whole event will be the first time that “St Patricks day” will have been held in the Main square (Hlavné námestie) and it should be a fantastic evening with all the entertainment that the Irish Chamber of Commerce have set up.

The Irish Chamber asked us at creative images to help promote the event. creative images provided advertising in form of official flyers and also a very interesting marketing campaign which involved inviting all the members of Facebook’s Secret Bratislava to the event. creative images suggested that Secret Bratislava members would all received a personal invite to the biggest St Patricks day that Bratislava has seen, whilst also being given the opportunity to win prizes! The cross promotion not only helps the Irish Chamber of Commerce have a wider reach with marketing the country of Ireland and St Patricks Day in particular, it also rewards the members of Facebook’s group “Secret Bratislava” for their input on the highly successful group that has taken Bratislava by storm.

Please feel free to support the Irish chamber of Commerce and attend this years  ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION on Friday 19th March in the Main Square (Hlavné námestie), 19.00 – 21.00 The Curragour Piper & Drummers band with Irish dancing sets performed by the Avalon Irish dancing group. The Curragour Pipers & Drummers are from Limerick, Ireland. The Band perform a varied selection of lively Irish Pipe Music including Jigs, Reels, Hornpipes, Slow Airs and traditional ballads They will also be performing during the week from 20.00 at Gremium Pub on Thursday 18th March and from 20.00 at the Dubliner on Saturday 20th March.

Facebook’s latest group, Secret Bratislava’s first event is this years St Patricks day! is a post from: Chris Plant, creative images

The packages will be printed in six different languages and a PDF document will be added to the memory stick so that conference attendees can have all information at hand when the conference kicks off in Brazil in April 2010.

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New contract: 3000 USB Marketing Toolkits is a post from: Chris Plant, creative images

As you know Flexfit have created the ISPO cap and this year we are proud to have negotiated the sponsorship yet again. Already everyone has been to our stand which is situated in Hall A2, position 500 on the main walkway. Caps have been the name of the day and the response has been extremely pleasing…

just a few happy faces at the show….

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ISPO 2010 – kicks off is a post from: Chris Plant, creative images

The final touches are being added to the Flexfit exhibition stand. New posters, extra large cupboard space, new bamboo and cap holder fixtures have been added and the last elements are being assembled and tested.

The ISPO show starts very soon and Flexfit customers will be able to see all the latest designs for the 2010/2011 seasons. Flexfit look forwrd to seeing you on their stand at the Winter ISPO, Feb 4th – 10th. Hall A2, Stand 500.

Final touches for ISPO 2010 is a post from: Chris Plant, creative images