International business network organization BNI recently started creating networks for business professionals in Colombia. Especially for foreigners setting up their business in the country, this can prove useful, BNI Colombia director James Russell said Tuesday.
In an interview with Colombia Reports, Russell said the main focus of his company is to stimulate the growth of local businesses by allowing its members to provide tips, leads and referrals among the members.
The value of being part of such a network is the receiving of referrals to contacts of fellow members, says Russell. The providing of these referrals is not rewarded with a commission, but by the return of favors of fellow members.
“The philophy of the organization is ‘Givers’ Gain’; If I give other business professionals ‘word of mouth’ referrals to help them grow their businesses, in the future they will do the same for me,” explains the BNI Colombia director.
For newcomers in the Colombian market, BNI provides cultural training, allowing foreign businessmen to understand what Colombian business culture is like. “This training helps foreign businesses understand how to perform better and how to develop their business, because things here work differently than in for example the United States,” said Russell.
BNI, officially launching its first chapter in the capital Bogota on November 2, plans to expand its activities to other cities in Colombia.