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CBS Expands its Services

New Solutions
to Future Challenges

• CBS’s new identity builds upon the company’s model of innovation and business growth services.

• CBS’s new identity builds upon the company’s model of innovation and business growth services.

1 min read

CBS Expands its Services
New Solutions to Future Challenges

“The new dynamic will create both threats and opportunities to existing businesses. We want to ensure that our clients adopt to threats and capture those opportunities” says Enio Jaco, CEO of CBS.

25 January, 2021

The Company has set up a New Active Unit.

Creative Business Solutions (CBS) has expanded and adapted its services by offering solutions that respond to the new normal created by the Covid 19 pandemic. After seven years of experience in implementing successful projects that integrate and develop businesses, the company changed its philosophy. In January 2021, CBS embarked on a transformation process in delivering sustainable solutions directly to businesses. The change focuses on the provision of new Consulting services including increased Access to Finance and the advancement of Technology, Innovation and Digitalization over strategic development sectors; Agriculture, Banking System, Financial Institutions and Tourism.

“The focus of CBS will be consulting services that helps our clients become successful in the new operating environment set by COVID-19. The new dynamic will create both threats and opportunities to existing businesses. We want to ensure that our clients adopt to threats and capture those opportunities” says Enio Jaco, CEO of CBS.

The reorganization of Creative Business Solutions envisages the extension of services to the countries of the Western Balkans, starting with Kosovo and Northern Macedonia, with the prospect of further expansion in the region.

CBS Network Expansion and Team Coordination

The transition phase brought changes and a new structure of CBS’ human resources. During the process, the CBS team underwent both professional training and ongoing communications on consultancy consolidation and the new way of delivering services. In support of the process, the company has set up a new active unit which is holding field meetings as well as ongoing communication with businesses in strategic sectors. The new network of this structure consists of 10 field service agents, 20 external experts from the financial sector and alliances from third parties. The company has entered into partnerships with international companies with experience in technology services, digitalization and financial consulting. About CBS and its Impact CBS, Creative Business Solutions was established in 2012 as a business consulting organization to provide advice and solutions to local businesses, organizations, donors and Financial Institutions. CBS has successfully implemented 18 large projects with a combined $7.8 million budget with multiple international donors in Agriculture, Finance, SME development as well as Tourism. The company facilitated a total of $88million in financing for over 400 Albanian SME’s, generating a total of $56.6 million in investments, $43.3 million in new revenues and 2472 new jobs through project implementations.

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    New Identity, New Culture
    New Communications tools

    CBS 2.0: Focus on
    Clients and Partners

    • CBS’s new identity builds upon the company’s model of innovation and business growth services.

    • The improvements symbolize commitment to clients but also opens new doors to the future.

    2 min read

    CBS New Identity
    Reflects Company's Focus
    on Clients and Partners

    All in, the changes symbolize an organization that reinvents itself staying very committed to its clients.

    Nov.21 2021

    Cheerful, Optimistic and Smart.

    Creative Business Solutions reveals a new brand identity, combining together dynamic communication tools and a new culture inside the company. The change reflects empowering services, a close approach to clients, and a comprehensive consulting model to evolving businesses.  

     

    Over the years, CBS has built a strong reputation on creating solutions to business growth. Now the company makes a new move - with a new look, representing a commitment to innovation and the company’s role, and purpose of powering better solutions to its clients, partners and all the business range.

     

    The improvements started during the mid-year and now are live in public including a fresh brand and identity, logo, an icon and the tagline: We Deliver Growth! Together with the brand refreshment, CBS has new communication channels in a new website, social media and a new working culture.

    At large, the changes symbolize an organization that reinvents itself staying very committed to its clients. The new identity builds upon its model of continued innovation and business growth services, but also opens doors to the future goals and achievements.

    The core elements of CBS changes include:

     

    New Culture Inside Out: The culture reflects the company’s DNA. It embodies ideas, customs, and social behavior of people that work in freedom and responsibility building a talent density, being candid by giving a lot of feedback and innovating continuously with customers.

    Logo and Iconography: Both logo and icon are authentic, cheerful, optimistic and smart. The logo is complemented by a combination of three letters c, b and s, each representing CBS services and visually forming a dynamic, colorful and playful Spiral of Growth.

    The Slogan: “We Deliver Growth” is inspired and created by the CBS’s people. It communicates the final result that the company provides to its clients emphasizing the 'main goal: Business Growth and Development.

    Brand Colors: CBS identity is represented by fresh colors. Dark blue, green and white as basic symbols signifying the CBS values ​​with its customers. A complementary color palette represents each service. Green for enterprise development, yellow for financial services, blue for digital services transformation, pink for dynamic marketing and sales models.

    Dynamic Communications: CBS shows particular importance to customer communication and is located everywhere close to customer service. We communicate, at any time and place, as our business advisors are available for any request or advice from clients. You can find CBS on social networks, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and in the dedicated line of clients at www.cbs.al.

    About CBS

    CBS, Creative Business Solutions was established in 2012 as a business consulting organization to provide advice and solutions to local businesses, organizations, donors and Financial Institutions. CBS has successfully implemented 18 large projects with a combined $7.8 million budget with multiple international donors in Agriculture, Finance, SME development as well as Tourism. The company facilitated a total of $88million in financing for over 400 Albanian SME’s, generating a total of $56.6 million in investments, $43.3 million in new revenues and 2472 new jobs through project implementations.

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      Së shpejti nis IPARD III

      IPARD III – 225 Milionë Euro
      për 1700 Fermerë

      • CBS fton Fermerët dhe Agropërpunuesit të bëhen pjesë e granteve

      • Investimet do të gjenerojnë një rritje në Bujqësi prej 30.9 milionë euro

      3 minuta lexim

      IPARD 3 - 225 Milionë Euro për 1700 Fermerë

      Do të krijohen 2558 vende të reja pune dhe 2558 vende të tjera do të ruhen në bujqësi dhe agropërpunim, e barabartë me 1.1% të fuqisë punëtore në të dy sektorët

      28 Tetor 2021

      Mbështetje për 1700 Fermerë dhe Agropërpunues.

      Sipas revistës Monitor, një vlerësim i pavarur i cili i paraprin programit IPARD
      III ka nënvizuar se autoritetet shqiptare duhet të punojnë më shumë në drejtim
      të transparencës si dhe të analizimit të mundësive, risqeve, pikave të forta
      dhe të dobëta.

      Kompania Ecorys Croatia mori në analizë gjatë periudhës qershor-gusht
      programin e Zhvillimit Rural të vendit për vitin 2021-2027, nën IPARD III, duke
      dhënë edhe këshillat se ku duhet të jetë fokusi.

      “Një çështje me rëndësi është transparenca. Grupet e interesuara kanë pohuar gjatë intervistave se transparenca e vendimeve në lidhje me kontraktimet, pagesat dhe refuzimet kanë qenë të jo të kënaqshme nën IPARD II dhe se priten përmirësime për periudhën e ardhshme të programit” thuhet në dokumentin e bërë publik nga Ministria e Bujqësisë dhe Zhvillimit Rural.

      Në vlerësimin e përgjithshëm kompania ka nënvizuar se stili i dokumenteve,
      faqosja dhe anglishtja e përdorur në program nga pala shqiptare janë
      modeste por përshkrimi i masave është përgjithësisht i mirë. Gjithsesi
      përmirësimet e tekstit dhe shpjegimeve mund të çojnë në qasje më të mirë të
      masave.

      “Nivelet maksimale të kostove totale të pranueshme të investimit për masën 1
      dhe masën 3 dhe niveli maksimal i dyshemesë së investimeve për përfituesit
      janë shumë të larta dhe mund të kufizojnë shpërndarjen e burimeve te
      fermerët dhe agropërpunuesit më të vegjël dhe më të dobët. Strukturat
      zbatuese janë përshkruar mirë dhe janë të vendosura për të lehtësuar
      zbatimin efektiv të programit.

      Megjithatë, mund të ndërmerren hapa për të rritur efektivitetin në AZHBR dhe për të përmirësuar transparencën e
      vendimeve të marra në AZHBR. Rekrutimi i stafit për vendet e lira të punës në
      AZHBR dhe Ministri ende nuk është kryer për të mbështetur zbatimin, por
      proceset e rekrutimit kanë filluar. Trajnimet i stafit janë kryer intensivisht dhe
      janë planifikuar edhe për stafin e ri.” thuhet në dokument.

      I njëjti vlerëson se ka disa mangësi sa i takon regjistrave ku ai i fermave nuk
      është ngritur ende kurse ai për kafshët nuk përditësohet rregullisht.
      “Megjithatë, MBZHR ka ndërmarrë hapa për t’u siguruar që regjistrat të jenë
      funksionalë kur programi të jetë gati për t’u hapur. Përfshirja e palëve të
      interesuara në procesin e programimit ka qenë e mirë, por nuk është
      përshkruar në mënyrë të përshtatshme në tekstin e programit” thuhet në
      vlerësimin paraprak.

      Sipas përmbledhjes programi IPARD III me 225 milionë euro parashikon
      investime publike dhe private dhe mbështetje për 1700 fermerë,
      agropërpunues dhe banorë ruralë si dhe mbështetje me 15 mijë shërbime
      këshillimore për sektorin.

      “Investimet do të gjenerojnë një rritje të Vlerës së Shtuar Bruto(VSHB) në
      bujqësi dhe agropërpunim prej 30.9 milionë euro e barabartë me 1.16% të
      VSHB-së së bujqësisë dhe agropërpunimit në total.

      Do të krijohen 2558 vende
      të reja pune dhe 2558 vende të tjera do të ruhen në bujqësi dhe
      agropërpunim, e barabartë me 1.1% të fuqisë punëtore në të dy sektorët. Së
      fundi, investimet në infrastrukturën rurale do të kontribuojnë në përmirësimin e
      kushteve të jetesës në zonat rurale dhe mbështetja e investimeve në pylltari,
      bujqësi organike dhe racat lokale të rrezikuara do të sjellë përfitime nga
      biodiversiteti në këtë sektor” thuhet në dokument.

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        300 Partners Participated

        CBS Launches 5 Digital
        Platforms on 5th Anniversary

        • Impact growth for 3,000 businesses. 43 million USD new revenues.

        • The digital products set up by CBS and its partners.

        2 minutes read

        CBS Launches 5 Digital Platforms on 5th Anniversary

        “We are open to sharing these products with everyone that is interested in increasing investment in their business activities”

        Sep. 26 2019

        The Most Crucial Moment of CBS in 5 five years.

        Creative Business Solutions (CBS) held its first annual event entitled ‘Growth Together’. The event was aimed at the introduction and launch of five innovative digital platforms designed by CBS as a connecting bridge for businesses and joint enterprises. The event was attended by 300 participants, including some of CBS’s strategic partners from USAID, EU, World Bank, GIZ, SIDA, and others.

        Also in attendance were high ranking officials from second tier banks, financial institutions, experts, donors, investors and bankers keen to strengthen partnerships and take advantage of these platforms for further business development and additional projects.

        These digital products set up by CBS and its partners have had an impact on the growth of 3,000 businesses with a revenue capital of 43 million USD or 100,000 USD in revenues for each of the partner businesses. Furthermore, the products have boosted investments and delivered new job openings aimed at sustainable development for these companies.

        In his remarks, the founder and CEO of CBS, Enio Jaço, welcomed all participants and underlined the importance of partnerships in such projects.

        “This is one of the most crucial moments that our organization has witnessed in the last five years. We are not here to give a presentation of our products. We are here today to launch cooperation and partnerships for the future. Our platforms are already active and this represents a major change for CBS. We began by designing products that offer sustainable solutions. Today we are open to sharing these products with everyone that is interested in increasing investment in their business activities” he said.

        The platforms were presented by the managers who were part of their creation and who supervise the daily activities as well as deliver new ideas for expansion.

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          USAID and CBS Partnership

          Farmers and Agribusinesses
          Access to European Standards

          • The SmartCapital project provided access to finance for enterprises.

          • Three priorities for continuing the support of the business community.

          3 minutes read

          $59 million in New Investments and
          1,500 New Jobs created in Agriculture

          Mikaela Meredith, USAID representative in Albania: “Looking to the future, undoubtedly, there are other people, businesses, and marketplaces that could benefit from the SmartCapital experience and build on what you’ve accomplished"

          April 21. 2021

          USAID and CBS Partnership

          The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Creative Business Solutions (CBS) organized a virtual event to mark the conclusion of the 5-year SmartCapital Project. International and domestic implementing partners and direct beneficiaries of the project participated in this event.

          Over the five years of its implementation, the project assisted 1,000 agribusinesses to secure $59 million in new investments and led to the opening of 1,500 new jobs.

          The project enabled access to financing for farmers and agribusinesses, technical assistance in obtaining modern technologies, the use of digital platforms to facilitate crediting and identification of international markets, and the certification of Albanian products in line with international standards.

          Mikaela Meredith, USAID representative in Albania spoke about the strong partnership and the unwavering support of the US government for Albania, while noting that the successful implementation of SmartCapital leaves behind a valuable legacy that will continue to support growth in the agricultural sector.

          “Looking to the future, undoubtedly, there are other people, businesses, and marketplaces that could benefit from the SmartCapital experience and build on what you’ve accomplished. I understand that Creative Business Solutions is looking to introduce a private equity fund to the entire region. Good luck with this new chapter and your future endeavors!

           

          “Hand in Hand” is a saying we often use in the United States in the context of partnership.  USAID works with you because we view U.S. investments as catalysts that can be used to mobilize governments, international organizations, foundations, and businesses to help countries plan, finance and implement their own development goals. And over the years the SmartCapital project has come to emulate this approach”, said Meredith.

          CBS Executive Director and President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Albania, Enio Jaço state that bringing the agriculture sector business community closer to European standards and strengthening trade relations between the U.S. and Albania, were major priorities for the SmartCapital project.

          “Albania is making progress on its path to the European Union and is developing strong economic relations with the United States. This was the goal of the project 5 years ago. We wanted to bring Albanian farmers and agribusiness closer to European standards.  We will continue our work with the sustainable platforms and services that have been created, and which are achievements of this project,” stated Jaço.

          In this context, Jaço informed the participants on three key pillars on which support for the business community will continue: Consultancy Services will continue to be provided to support the business community with technical assistance. Secondly, Digital Platforms will bring financial institutions closer to the agribusiness community and enable the sale of agricultural produce in international markets through e-commerce, while on the other hand, the first Private Equity Fund in Albania will create opportunities for entrepreneurs to obtaining financing outside the banking sector.

          Over the project implementation period, CBS, USAID’s partner, developed two digital platforms to facilitate crediting for farmers. LORES connects farmers to banks and facilitates the crediting of the agriculture sector, while Agro Trade is the first e-commerce platform in Albania enabling the export of Albanian products to international markets.

          International banking sector expert and SmartCapital project implementation partner, Serge Guay stressed the importance of employing financial technology products for SME development in the country, as a necessity driven even more by the situation created by the Covid-19 global pandemic.

          “Consultancy services and the digital platforms developed by CBS under the SmartCapital project proved their efficiency during the pandemic. Electronic loan processing allowed SMEs to easily obtain loans even during the lockdown, since it was not necessary to go to the bank and everything was done online.  On the other hand, these digital platforms are an inspiration for the banking sector and I foresee beneficial and closer cooperation in the future between the business and the banking sector, helped along by relevant brokerage services” said Guay.

          A video showcasing the SmartCapital project and its impact on the Albanian agriculture sector was also shown during the event.

          The Albanian Equity Market Initiative   

          Gavin Ryan, World Bank expert on private equity funds and SmartCapital consultant was also a guest of the event.

          Ryan discussed the importance of small and medium businesses in Albania and the further development and consolidation potential for these businesses through the introduction of alternative financing opportunities, such as the one provided by the private equity market.

          “In addition to providing capital for the company, the benefits of private equity ownership in a SME, is that it brings SME closer to banks providing access to loans and establishing credibility, since the SME management level and quality have improved.

           

          This is what a private equity fund brings to the table, and such fund does not exist in Albania. When considering countries like Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, and Romania that have benefited from the establishment of such funds, it is clear that it is time for this to happen in Albania, as well.

           

          I believe the conditions are very good. EU accession and the strong connection with Italy, the enhancement of relations with other countries in the world, such as the United States, and the role of the Albanian diaspora could have a very positive effect in the private equity market.

           

          With regard to the establishment of the private equity fund in Albania, CBS can provide its knowledge of the SME market and the methods and reliability it has been able to develop with the broad business community. Its SME database and knowledge of the market will allow private equity investors to be more efficient in their work,” noted Ryan.

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