News Archives - Page 19 of 20

Market assessment in Kosovo

Aafke van Sprundel2016-11-01T16:28:08+00:00August 21st, 2014|Tags: Kosovo, processed fruits and vegetables, Promoting Private Sector Employment, Riinvest Institute, Swiss Development Cooperation, Swisscontact|

In the beginning of August, ProFound consultants Gustavo Ferro and Bert-Jan Ottens embarked on a mission to Pristina, Kosovo, to initiate an assessment of the Kosovar market for processed fruits and vegetables. This assessment falls within the framework of Promoting Private Sector Employment (PPSE), a programme financed by the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC). The programme is implemented by a consortium of Swisscontact, Riinvest Insitute and PEM Consult. Together with the Riinvest Institute as a local partner, ProFound is conducting the market assessment at three different levels: Trade statistics: an assessment of Kosovo’s trade balance. Value chain dynamics: an analysis of [Read more]

Exploring the EU market for wild botanicals

Aafke van Sprundel2016-11-01T16:28:08+00:00June 18th, 2014|Tags: BTC, developing countries, MAPs, wild-collection|

ProFound has recently concluded a pioneer study on the EU market for wild-sourced botanicals commissioned by the Trade for Development Centre (TDC) of the Belgian Development Agency (BTC), anticipating the growing opportunities for these products in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. The study on wild botanicals has been carried out within the framework of TDC’s Producer Support Programme, through which financial and technical assistance is provided to producer organisations. TDC aims at economic and social empowerment of small producer organisations, by both enhancing business knowledge and improving their access to markets. In this context, the study focuses on wild-collected medicinal and aromatic [Read more]

Ethiopia Mission June 2014: Counselling Sessions

Aafke van Sprundel2016-10-11T12:50:59+00:00June 2nd, 2014|Tags: ASPIRE, beekeeping sector, Ethiopia|

The Ethiopian honey sector is thriving. In 2011, the ASPIRE programme in which ProFound takes active part, counted 16 honey and beeswax processors. By now, in 2014, we are working with 26 members of the Ethiopian exporters association. Many businessmen and women recognise the opportunities in this sector. ProFound supports these entrepreneurs to develop their businesses by providing essential services: market analysis, analyses of capacities and strategic planning. In June 2014, we delivered services to individual entrepreneurs in a series of face-to-face counselling sessions in Ethiopia. It became evident from these sessions that, despite the many bottlenecks in the sector, [Read more]

Natural Ingredients for Food & SME Development in Afghanistan

Aafke van Sprundel2016-10-11T12:53:11+00:00June 1st, 2014|Tags: Afghanistan, CBI, Export Coaching Programme, food, SME Development|

From 7-9 May 2014, ProFound organised and conducted a strategic Stakeholder Conference in Abu Dhabi: ‘Natural Ingredients for Food & SME Development in Afghanistan’. The Conference was organised in close collaboration with representatives of CBI and UNITAR, as well as with other relevant Afghan stakeholders from a previous natural ingredients project. Aim of the Stakeholder Conference was to discuss the opportunities and constraints of the Afghan Natural Ingredients sector, and seek opportunities to address these through joint initiatives. Key-outcome of the Conference will be a framework of a programme of support activities to Afghan SMEs in the Natural Ingredients sector, [Read more]

South Africa: fact-finding and acquisition mission

Aafke van Sprundel2016-11-01T16:28:09+00:00March 26th, 2014|Tags: CBI, Natural Ingredients, South Africa|

South Africa is a biodiversity hotspot, offering a wealth of indigenous plants to produce natural ingredients. Next to these raw materials, South Africa also has a large food and wine industry; its waste materials, such as kernels, peel, seeds and low-grade materials can be used to produce a variety of extracts, essential oils and vegetable oils. Only a few companies in South Africa bank on these opportunities to supply export markets with innovative ingredients. Moreover, only recently are some public institutions becoming aware of the opportunities the sector offers for rural development and value addition. In this context, CBI is [Read more]

Palestinian potential for Natural Ingredients

Aafke van Sprundel2019-03-28T11:45:18+00:00March 26th, 2014|Tags: CBI, Natural Ingredients, State of Palestine, VCA|

Palestinian companies face many bottlenecks when targeting export markets. Especially pressing are limited access to water and land and a weak enabling environment. Natural ingredients producers are particularly affected. Exporters rely on domestic raw materials which are not available according to consistent volumes and quality. Moreover, companies lack information and entrepreneurial skills for production, business and export planning. In a joint effort, the Netherlands Representative Office and CBI agreed to investigate the possibilities of a CBI intervention in the natural ingredients sector. ProFound worked on the first step in this process: an in-depth Value Chain Analysis (VCA). Together with Klaus [Read more]

Market entry for Ethiopian honey processors

Aafke van Sprundel2016-10-11T12:55:49+00:00March 4th, 2014|Tags: ASPIRE, beekeeping sector, Ethiopia, marketing strategy|

Kasper Kerver and Jesse Bloemendaal of ProFound held a 3-day marketing strategy workshop for Ethiopian bee product processors in Addis Ababa. After short theoretical introductions of the different topics in a marketing strategy, the participants of the workshop developed their own marketing strategies through exercises and private counselling sessions with the consultants. This workshop was the kick-off for a long-term commitment by ProFound to support companies with their marketing strategy and business planning. Entrepreneurs delivering a high-quality marketing strategy are invited to participate in local and international trade fairs and other matchmaking opportunities. The first participants of the workshop have [Read more]

UNITAR training – Afghanistan

Aafke van Sprundel2016-10-11T12:56:25+00:00February 18th, 2014|Tags: Afghanistan, SME Development, UNITAR|

From 1 to 5 December 2013, ProFound and Mr. Christer Guldemond of the VU University Amsterdam conducted a workshop in Abu Dhabi on SME Development in Afghanistan, as requested by the UN Institute for Training & Research (UNITAR). Some 20 participants took part, from various government departments working on SME development (including 2 Deputy Ministers and Directors of Provincial Offices). Besides several lectures, the participants worked in groups on SME cases, among which practical cases related to Natural Ingredients in Afghanistan. To read more about this training, refer to the UNITAR website.

ProFound gets involved in CDE activities

Aafke van Sprundel2013-12-17T15:30:31+00:00December 17th, 2013|Tags: Africa, Centre for the Development of Entreprise, Private Sector Development Programmes|

In the course of 2013, ProFound's director Bert-Jan Ottens has actively participated in various activities of the European Institutional Network's Steering Committee of the Centre for the Develoment of Enterprise (CDE). CDE is an ACP/EU joint institution which acts in facilitating business partnerships and SME development in ACP countries. Currently, CDE has 6 Private Sector Development Programmes (PSDPs) running in the WAEMU, Botswana, the DRC, the Republic of Congo, Cameroon and Ivory Coast.

Supporting CBI in Egypt

Aafke van Sprundel2016-10-11T12:57:04+00:00December 17th, 2013|Tags: CBI, crafts, Egypt, engineering products, Export Coaching Programme, Natural Ingredients|

In 2013, ProFound developed a business case for the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI) which encompasses three sectors: natural ingredients, crafts and engineering products. This business case will be the basis for CBI’s Export Coaching Programme (ECP) in the next 5 years. In this contex, a first fact-finding and acquisition mission took place in December 2013, where consultant Robbie Hogervorst promoted the programme to local producers and exporters. He also had several meetings with key local counterparts to identify synergies and means of cooperation, as well as to broaden the local support base for the [Read more]