A VISITOR from Slovakia is spending a week in Bolton looking at business support services.

Thomas Palacka, the Director of the Regional Advisory and Information Centre in Komarno, is in the UK as a guest of the British Council.

Bolton Business Ventures, based in Lower Bridgeman Street, was invited to host the visit as a result of experience gained in enterprise development in central and eastern Europe. Mr Palacka came to Bolton keen to learn how small businesses overcome the problems of survival and growth and what support can be given by agencies such as BBV.

During his week in Bolton he has shadowed various members of the team and has met various local business people, civic leaders and officers from Bolton's Economic Development Unit.

BBV, which has been working in Hungary and the Czech and Slovak republics for several years, is regarded as a Centre of Excellence in the UK.

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