1. Structure and aim

International Training Consortium – CFI is a non-profit Consortium established in 1998 working in the field of the Developing Cooperation and internationalization realizing Training program in Italy and abroad   for managers, executives and technical coming from developing countries and in Transition toward economy market.

Partners of the Consortium are some trade associations (ABI, CONFINDUSTRIA, UIR – Unione Industriali e imprese di Roma, UCIMU – Unione Costruttori Italiani Macchine Utensili) Developing agencies (ICE, SVILUPPO LAZIO, CAMERA DI COMMERCIO di Roma) companies of public services and/or involved in internalization processes (ENEL, FINMECCANICA, FINCANTIERI, ITALCEMENTI, TELECOM ITALIA SPARKLE, EMICOM, POSTE ITALIANE,  RAI, ATAC) tertiary sector and training companies (IL CANALE, IRI MANAGEMENT) supporting CFI activities through financial contribution and also giving free support of staff and structures for didactic activities and training programs.

Chairman of  the Consortium is the On. Ing. Giancarlo Lombardi. A representative of MAE (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and a representative from the from the MCI (Ministry of International Trade) ruling as permanent observers during the Board of Director’s meetings.

Around the 50% of CFI activities are sponsored by  MAE/DGCS financial contributions, granted by decree  to  realize programs and projects issued after technical-economical evaluations adequacy made by experts of DGCS (General Direction Developing Cooperation).

Additional activities are financed by partners or third party organizations or acquired by competition.

2. Main Activities

During the years among the main activities realized by the CFI featured:

• The Specialized Training Courses for Technicians and Managerial Personnel: organized every year, they consist  in the prosecution and amplification to other sectors of the training activity  and subsequent follow-up for foreign technicians from Developing and in Transition Countries realized in Italy by IRI since 1962.
  Courses have a duration of 10 weeks divided in 3 phases including as mid phase, the realization of working  stage in associated companies or third par companies allowing them to acquire a specialization in their own operational field, as well as to establish useful connection with  companies in which they get in touch. 
  Each Course is attended by 30 participants coming from 15-20 Countries and divided in 6-8 section of specialization.

• Specialized managerial Courses and Seminars for one Country:Professional Training initiatives on specific themes with variable duration (2-5 weeks). These initiatives are mainly financed by  Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ICE articulated  in theory sessions, witnesses and tour studies.
  Some example are:

1. Cycle of annual seminars on public economy, Privatization, banking system and  project funding, SME, infrastructures management for Algerian executives from different Ministers, public holding and banks;
2. 4-5 weeks of specialized courses on Banking and Finance, on international trade for Chinese technicians;
3. Courses on management, administration and accounting, SME structure and organization  for public servants of P.D.R. of Chorea Provincial governments;
4. Courses on methodologies of development economic policies with planning and management procedures of public investment addressed to 10 executive officers of economic and financial agencies of Balcanian;
5. Study tours for architects and Industrial designers.

• Activities in cooperation with Sviluppo Lazio: since 2002 CFI works together with Sviluppo Lazio to realize a training program and technical assistance on internationalization and Territorial Marketing for provincial administrations public servants, and from Chambers of Commerce and  trade associations of Latium Region public servants.
  The program includes the organization of international convention on Territorial Marketing and  training activities in Italy for public servants and Lithuanian  private  companies.
  

• Training for Italian Experts in internationalization: the CFI cooperates with ICE (Italian  Institute for Foreign Trade) to realize post-degree courses for graduates on external trade subjects and business Internalization also having a specialization in economy and/or geographic area. in the same field CFI collaborates with training Department of ICE on e-learning project concerning planning and supply of training courses on-line for SME in Italy.
  

• Abroad activities:with the financial support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs /Direction General Cooperation Development, the CFI realized an Informatics Training Program In Bosnia  & Herzegovina for professional qualification and  work engagement of disable people.

Besides that, the CFI participated to Med Net’U Project, financed by EU, concerning the project to develop and supply  through satellite transmission and Internet, University graduates and Technical–professional Training programs for countries belonging to the Mediterranean Area.

For years, the CFI is working with the Civil Defense Department for develop the culture of civil protection and its diffusion through the initiatives of the Civil Service.

Finally, the Consortium has organized and conducted the training course in Italy and in Brussels at the EU institutions on the project "Advanced Training for managers in the countries of Mercosur", an initiative financed by the MAE/DGCS and finalized to the progressive transfer to Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay methodologies and models of regional integration developed in the Europe.

The commitment of members and companies guarantee  to the CFI:

The availability of operational and training business structures integrating the resources within the Consortium to create their own activities regarding managerial training contents and for stage hosting.