(2 January, 2017) “Supporting Lombardy SME’s readiness in strategic markets” (Percorsi di accompagnamento in mercati strategici per il sistema economico Lombardo) project offers 200 companies based in Lombardy to embark on new initiatives in 10 different countries: from China to South Africa to the Middle East. The objective of the project is assist SMEs in develop their activities in target markets. This project is promoted by the Lombardy Region and Unioncamere Lombardia through Promos – Special Agency for International Activities of the Milan Chamber of Commerce. After the first three missions to South Africa, Iran, and China; SMEs can can apply to the January 2017 call to participate in Morocco and Kenya followed by USA, Canada, Kazakhistan, Vietnam, and Argentina. This vast area’s export value is estimated at €16 billion per year (€8.2 billion of which in the first 6 months of 2016- 1/7th of the regional total towards other markets).