Value Chain Workshop. In an effort to promote a value chain approach to participating PRODEL anchor firms, a workshop was organized from October 29-31, 2008 and co- sponsored by the Ministry of Industry and Competitiveness (MIC), USAID, and PRODEL. During the workshop, anchor firm and MIC representatives learned value chain concepts including its structure, the stakeholders, and the relationship of the actors within a value chain. The workshop also provided tools for company analysis and business plan development. The event was attended by a total of 27 professionals including representatives from 10 PRODEL anchor firms, the IOM PIDEM project, and 15 participants from the MIC. After the workshop, representatives from the MIC indicated its interest to explore the possibility to replicate this event in other parts of Ecuador during the remaining time of the PRODEL program. PRODEL team members agree and see this as an opportunity to involve the Ecuadorian public sector in overcoming obstacles and impediments to value chains.
