Mr. Casillas has more than Twenty-one years of experience in programme and project management, including ten years in the field of Twinning/Jumelage, both in DG NEAR in the Twinning Coordination Team and in the field, in an EU Delegation in the Caucasus region. Mr. Casillas also specializes in monitoring and evaluation of EU funded programs and projects.
For more than six years years, he has been one of the pillars of the Twinning Coordination Team at the European Commission, Neighbourhood Directorate-General and Enlargement Negotiations Directorate General in Brussels. As such, ha was the main focal point for MS Twinning National Contact Points network interacting daily with them, in particular regarding the eligibility assessment of public and semi-public administrations as mandated bodies and as helpdesk on rules and procedures and in solving issues with EU delegations and national authorities in IPA and ENI countries. As such, he developed a successful strategy to diversify and increase the number of MS’ participating in calls for proposals in French speaking north African countries. He has been the main trainer on Twinning and has contributed to the Twinning Manual updates since 2012. For five years, he was the Country coordinator for all Western Balkans and Turkey and for three years he was country coordinator for all North Africa, Belarus, Georgia and Ukraine. He delivered trainings on Twinning in EU Member States (Greece, Malta, Belgium, Denmark, Austria) and in partner countries (Albania, Serbia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Turkey, Belarus, Georgia, Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco). While working in the Twinning Coordination Team, he also acquired hands on experience on TAIEX, being project officer for several events.
Mr Casillas has also been Twinning, TAIEX and SIGMA coordinator at the European Union delegation in a Caucasus country where for three years, he was responsible for Twinning yearly Programming with PAO and implemented the majority of Twinning projects, such as: Strengthening capacity to strengthen the enforcement of intellectual property and related rights or developing synergies between three Twinning projects related to social protection. He participated as Evaluator in 80% of Twinning calls for proposals, with four to five proposals being submitted for every call. One of his achievements, while working at the Delegation was to increase significantly the number of Twinning projects. The country was quoted as “Twinning Success story” by former Commissioner Hahn and Deputy Maternova. He also multiplyed the number of TAIEX events by three.
Mr Casillas has carried out numerous monitoring and evaluation missions, in Ecuador, Benin, Burundi and Djibouti and very recently he carried out for DG NEAR an evaluation on EU Member States legislation related to public cooperation with all 27 EU Member States.
He holds a master's degree in international politics from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), and has been delivering trainings on Twinning rules and procedure, proposals preparation, selection and award modalities and Twinning implementation best practices for the past six years at the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) in Maastricht.
Mr Casillas is presently a freelance expert in Armenia.
My previous work responsibilities covered the coordination and implementation of projects for fostering regional economic integration of the Western Balkans and cooperation within the association of Western Balkans Six Chamber Investment Forum. I have extensive experience in project planning, policy development, reporting, event organization, administrative and operational tasks.
Maestro of International Trade Solutions
As an International Trade and Business Development Consultant, I provide a wide range of consulting services, international business solutions, team coaching and practical training courses to help companies and individuals access global markets and expand their businesses. These services include export development, international trade, international market search and analysis, finding potential markets, market access plans, sales channels, leads generation, intelligent trade tools and platforms, market and trade data intelligence, process digitalization, and competitive intelligence. I have over 24 years of experience in various fields and sectors, including international trade, business development, export management, professional training and coaching, cosmetics and personal care products, veterinary medicines, dental equipment and materials, construction materials, automotive spare parts, and business solutions.
I use intelligent tools supported with artificial intelligence to discover business opportunities, find export potential markets, generate leads, and find intelligent and effective solutions for my clients. I also create and implement integrated business plans, effective marketing plans, strategic goals, and lead the sales and marketing teams. My approach combines practical action plans, intelligent tools, and advanced strategies to effectively reach targeted markets. In addition, I train and motivate individuals, entrepreneurs, and teams to achieve desired results and create sustainable added value.
I am an international consultant for several companies and organizations in Türkiye, Syria, USA, China, UK, Canada, Nigeria, Uganda, Yemen and Palestine. I am a member of the Advisory Board and Expert Council of the US Meta Arees International University (USMAU) and the American Board Agency of Training and Education, the International Trade Council (ITC), the Syrian Engineers Association in Turkey, and the Knowledge Commercialization Center (BTM) - Istanbul. I am also an international business leader in the African Business Community, Individual Project Procurement Consultant at the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and a member of multiple civil society organizations that aim to rebuild Syria and contribute to economic development.
To me, business development in international trade is more than just work, responsibilities, tasks, or knowledge sharing; it is a passion and a privilege to be part of the growth journey, with a commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.
I am currently working in the financial area of Ibercaja Bank as an economic analyst. We are responsible for studying and analyzing the economic and financial situation at the international, national, and local levels. I am a dynamic person with adaptability, self-discipline, and responsibility. My university years helped me develop strong organizational skills. I perform well under pressure and feel comfortable working in a team.
