The objective of the Framework Contract was to provide, via individual assignments through Specific Contracts, short-term technical assistance which could be mobilised at very short notice (normally within 3 weeks). Technical fields covered under the Framework Contract included:
• Investment promotion (domestic and foreign);
• Small and Medium enterprises (SME) support (inclusive advisory services for management, production, technology, research & development, marketing, partnership, safety, exports promotion, financing, human resources management incl. gender issue, training, environmental impact, production quality, etc.);
• Commercial banking, inclusive financial services to SMEs (credit lines, equity, guarantees, micro-credits …), guarantee funds;
• Supporting professional/commercial/advisory bodies (professional associations, decentralised advisory agencies, local consultancy strengthening, chambers of commerce, European Information Correspondence Centres (EICC) networking), Business Centres;
• Stock exchange.