GTIM Network Essential Ideas

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The GTIM Network is a “knowledge system” supporting the development of entrepreneurs in emerging economies such as  in Colombia, or Nigeria, or Vietnam. 

• “Entrepreneurs” means those businesspersons who understand that the success of their business depends,  in large part, on acquiring and applying certain management skills to the sale of their product or service.
• “Entrepreneurs” are principally responsible for the investment of time and money in continuous training regarding these management skills and, when necessary, engaging professional support services.      
  
  
• the GTIM Network “knowledge system” focuses on four relationships an entrepreneur must learn to manage in global trade and investment : imports, exports, inward investments,  and outward investments.  
   
• Each relationships requires that the same four basic management skills  be mastered: market intelligence, market promotion, market contacts, and transaction management. 

• The GTIM Network is simply that: a network. The “knowledge” it makes available to emerging entrepreneurs….about the four management skills… is provided by third parties. What the GTIM Network provides is a structured way of presenting that knowledge and the means for accessing it, emphasizing as much as possible the use of the Internet. 
• the Network itself has three components: 1) the Database; 2)a Web Portal, and ; 3) Business Service Centers.           
  
  
• Organizationally , is a fee-based, income generating activity. The very small staff of the GTIM Network will dedicate itself to a limited set of functions: 1)procuring and editing trade and investment  material for training modules ; 2) recruit Professional Service Providers to offer consulting services that build on the training; 3) maintaining an  Internet-based platform for  public access to the training modules and consulting services; 4) encouraging the creation of physical venues  (Business Service Centers) to facilitate access to the GTIM Network Web Portal and other internet resources; and ,5) actively recruit participants to the Network whether as providers of  training and services or as  commercial  users .

• The GTIM Network complements all other existing business support systems such as Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Business Associations; it competes with none of them but rather supports them. The Network will not advocate any policy positions on behalf of Network members. That important function is best served by the Chambers and Associations.