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PACT Ghana has demonstrated that
the business community in Africa can benefit from trade-related
technical assistance, and with their direct involvement more can
be achieved. The PACT programme in Ghana involved training of
businesses community and farmers in exporting produce from the
horticulture industry. ITC/TFOC applied the PACT resources in
helping the Institute of Packaging Ghana (IOPG) to address the
packaging needs of this agro-industry. A series of training
seminars and workshops on packaging were delivered to the
packaging professionals in the country and enhanced the capacity
of the IOPG to provide better packaging information to the
business community: training on packaging technologies,
international regulations, transport packaging for exports, etc.
ITC’s PACKit modular knowledge and information kit on export
packaging was the most popular tool, leading to the signing of a
Joint Publication Agreement with IOPG. To-date more than 40
modules and 3000 pages are now available to the packaging industry
and exporters throughout Ghana.
Together with TFOC, ITC
supported Ghana businesses to attend the Afrik’Embal, a joint
regional show organized by Ghana and Ivory Coast and held in Accra
in May 2005. The packaging of agro-produce export was at the
centre of the Ghana team, with the aim to grow the expertise in
this particularly important field (understanding structural and
graphic designs, including labelling and printing, as well as use
of CAD-CAM software design training). The PACT programme created
awareness on how to integrate packaging in the overall product and
market development of their products.
The second
element was that with more awareness in the producers there is now
a desire to refocus packaging training for the food industry, as
this is one of Ghana’s highest areas of export potential.
The increasingly stringent food safety, traceability and other
market regulations have increased the countervailing power of the
supermarkets in the fresh produce trade. These requirements have
raised the bar for participation in the international markets and
the Ghanaian smallholder farmers who dominate production face
difficulties. IOPG have now taken-up the mantle to disseminate
information on these packaging issues, as a logical step following
from the PACT training programme. According to IOPG many business
organizations are now interested in improving their packaging of
export products. There is now greater interest by local people to
widen training on packaging to include the manufacturing sector,
and there is need for further financial assistance in order to
undertake any such further training on packaging.
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Building export
competitiveness and promoting concrete business opportunities are
two of the primary objectives of the PACT programme, and both
elements formed part of the business support programme delivered
to the South African cosmetics sector. ITC and TFOC in
partnership with the South African Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI) created an opportunity for export promotion
partnership through the South African Cosmetics Export Council (SACEC),
for the benefit of the cosmetics sector in the country.
In October 2004, 11
emerging cosmetics firms participated in a week-long supply chain
management course in Pretoria. The small and medium sized
companies invited to participate in this programme represented
previously disadvantaged groups: generally, women-owned/managed
companies and black-empowered enterprises. Most of the firms had
already achieved some domestic success with their products but
were not familiar with export business. The goal of the
supply-chain workshop was to help prepare the companies for the
demands of the international markets with respect to order
fulfillment, quality control and cost competitiveness. The
interactive workshop was led by experts from ITC supported by a
firm of South African quality management consultants who provided
personalized support and advice to the companies after the
workshop. A TFOC industry consultant provided the perspective and
requirements of the Canadian market.
Based on the strong
showing of interest of the companies at the workshop and their
export potential, nine companies were chosen to participate in a
business contact mission to Canada in April 2005. Before arriving
in Canada the companies received customized business advice from
the Canadian industry consultant. Advise included issues such as
positioning and pricing of their products, suggested improvements
to packaging and promotional materials to meet the needs, and
expectations of Canadian buyers.
The market tour
took in both of Canada’s key commercial centres for this sector,
Toronto and Montreal, and included a visit to the Allied Beauty
Association trade show. In both cities, cosmetic
importers/wholesalers and key retailers were invited to a
mini-exhibition of the companies and their products. Feedback
from the buying community was very positive – a reflection of the
supply-chain and market-readiness preparations of the companies
involved. This also showed the potential of the South African
cosmetic brands based on indigenous, natural ingredients.
Most of the
companies will likely need to conduct a follow-up visit in order
to successfully develop the contacts made in the April mission;
while some may decide for pricing or other reasons that the
Canadian market is not suitable for their products at this time.
All of the participating companies acknowledged that they
completed the programme with a better sense of what was needed of
their company and their offering in order to compete successfully
in the Canadian market. Ongoing export development support is
available to the companies through their industry association, the
SAEC, and from the DTI including their trade office in Toronto.
However, less than
five months after the initial business contact mission, three of
the companies have either secured orders from Canadian buyers or
are in serious negotiations to do so. This is a remarkable success
in a conservative marketplace where sales cycles for new entrants
are typically 6-18 months. Indeed, one company’s products will be
promoted in October 2005 on the shelves of a leading Canadian
retailer. Another company, which had improved its packaging in
response to the supply-chain programme, received a trial order
from a buyer who will also be helping the product gain entry into
the US market.
With the support
of the PACT programme, the companies involved demonstrated that
they had indeed increased their export business competitiveness
and had developed concrete business opportunities.
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ACCESS! –
Strengthening of Local and Regional Women’s Business organizations
(November-December 2004)
ACCESS! for African Businesswomen in International
Trade, a
regional project within PACT, was conceived to help address some
of the typical constraints faced by women entrepreneurs along the
path of exporting. However a significant side effect to the
program development has come to light.
As part of the programme design, a careful
situation analysis needed to be undertaken to assess the
requirements and needs of the local women’s business communities.
The PACT team called upon the Canadian and African Business
Women’s Alliance (CAABWA) to carry out this task. CAABWA was formed
four years ago to foster networking and support opportunities
between business women in Africa and Canada. CAABWA is
headquartered in Canada and is partnered with business women’s
associations in over eight African countries, including most of
the countries where ACCESS! will take place.
CAABWA used a comprehensive survey to conduct
interviews of women business owners, managers and associations.
Not only did this provide detailed information and programming
input on the exporting capabilities and needs of African business
women and their support institutions, but it also provided an
excellent networking opportunity for CAABWA and its member
organizations both within the countries surveyed (Ghana, Ethiopia,
South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda) and across the region. The
various CAABWA members in Canada and Africa have strengthened
their ties to each other, and in Ethiopia have used the momentum
created by the assignment to form a new CAABWA affiliate. The
establishment of a CAABWA affiliate in Ethiopia allows the women
entrepreneurs there to have access to support and network
opportunities with fellow sub-Saharan and Canadian business
women.
Now, with an
even stronger network, CAABWA, is better able to support the
efforts of these women entrepreneurs and exporters achieve their
goals and improve the economic situation of their communities.
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- PACCIA/PACT
Ghana - Export development of Horticultural products (June
2004)
PACT Ghana has been instrumental in bringing about an impressive
increase in exports of horticultural products to Europe, i.e.
mangos, papayas, pineapples, okra, chillies, thereby securing jobs
and income for more than 600 small-scale farmers and producers in
Ghana. This is largely the result of a careful matchmaking effort
bringing together European importers with local producers
associations. At the same time, the development of a group
production and marketing scheme under the leadership of the Ghana
Export Promotion Council ensured a reliable supply of products, in
line with the requested volumes and quality standards.
During the
first phase of PACT, a market mission
to Germany and UK of selected representatives of the main
horticultural export associations under the leadership of Ghana
Export Promotion Council (GEPC) had been organized. During that
mission, GEPC identified a Germany-based market agent to
facilitate the export of horticultural produce from Ghana into
Germany and other European countries.
As part of the second phase’s activities, a Ghanaian delegation of
representatives from Export Product associations, GEPC, and market
agent participated in the Fruit Logistica Trade Fair in Germany in
February 2004. The delegation made contacts with fruit and
vegetable industry professionals including importers, buyers and
distributors. Buyers interested to import horticultural products
from Ghana were identified. It was then decided to organize a
reverse mission of importers/buyers to Ghana in May 2004.
During the importers/buyers’ mission in Accra, a 3-day workshop on
the Group Marketing Scheme was held with the participation of all
relevant stakeholders. Memoranda of understanding between the
importers and the exporting companies were signed by the end of
the mission with clear shipment schedules of horticultural
products for the period 2004 – 2005.
Since June 2004, about 210 tons of different horticultural
products are shipped on weekly basis to Europe under the Group
Marketing Scheme, generating about 420’000 Euros. It is estimated
that by the end of December 2004, with the current trend, 10
million Euros will be generated.
(For more info)
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PACCIA/PACT
South Africa - NAFCOC Mission to Canada (13th-26th
September 2003)
Under
the auspices of the
PACCIA/PACT
programme
for South Africa, a five-member delegation from the National
African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NAFCOC)
visited Canada between 13th–26th
September, 2003.
Representing the black business community, the National African
Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NAFCOC) has a crucial
role in implementing the South African government strategy for
broad-based black economic empowerment (BEE). The BEE is an
integrated socio-economic process designed to contribute to the
economic transformation of South Africa and bring about a
significant increase in the number of black South Africans that
manage, own and control the country’s economy, and reduce income
inequality.
Following the delegation’s participation in the 3rd
World Chambers Congress in Quebec City (September 15-17, 2003),
which
attracted this year
some 800 chamber executives from 88 countries,
Trade
Facilitation
Office
Canada
organised a study tour and meetings with relevant Canadian
industry and trade organisations, government agencies and private
companies, in Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa.
The
objective of the mission was to exchange information on the
management of trade associations and chamber of commerce and to
establish ongoing commercial links with counterpart Canadian
organisations.
Equally important, the mission aimed to develop information and a
base of knowledge for the delegates on chamber/association
management and operations procedures, to enable NAFCOC to take the
required steps to
build operational capacity and to
contribute to
the implementation of the BEE strategy.
Subsequently, the delegation met with relevant trade institutions
in Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto. In total, the mission met with
25 organizations in Canada, which included Chambers of Commerce,
government institutions, business associations, Canadian private
companies, and training institutions.
A Memorandum of
Understanding for cooperation was signed with the Canadian
Manufacturers
and Exporters association.
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PACCIA/PACT
Ghana -
Market mission
in Europe for selected horticultural products
(23rd-27th June 2003)
With the support of TFOC and ITC, the Ghana Export Promotion
Council (GEPC), organized a market mission in Europe for selected
horticultural products for National associations, among them, the
Vegetables Producers and Exporters Association, the Ghana Yam
Exporters Association and the Ghana Assorted Food Stuffs
Association. TFOC and ITC arranged the visit of relevant sector
associations, importers, wholesalers and supermarkets in the UK.
The purpose of the mission was to hold meetings with agents and
importers of selected horticultural products to facilitate
securing export agreements and to
build the knowledge of the delegates on key factors driving the
markets for selected horticultural products.
During the marketing mission in UK, GEPC has also identified
German marketing agents. These German buyers have already visited
Ghana to meet with the exporter product associations for
preliminary assessment and the preparation of bulk shipment using
Germany as the entry market to Europe.
German marketing agents informed GEPC that they have secured
preliminary interests of major supermarkets in Germany and
confirmed orders by November-December 2003 towards year-round
shipment for 2004.
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Geneva, Trade Facilitation Office of Canada (TFOC) and
International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO (ITC) join forces to develop
trade in
Africa. (March 2003)
The
Trade Facilitation Office
Canada and the International Trade Centre
UNCTAD/WTO signed a
Memorandum of Agreement in March 2003 to help African exporters
boost their potential, through a five-year, 8 million Canadian
dollar (US$ 5 million) programme funded by the Canada Fund for
Africa.
PACCIA/PACT
(Programme for Building African Capacity for
Trade), is one of the initiatives under the Canada Fund for
Africa, which was announced by the Canadian Prime Minister, Jean Chrétien, at the G8 summit in Kananaskis, Canada in June 2002.
With 34 of the world’s 49 Least
Developed Countries (LDCs) located in Africa, the continent stands
out in its need for poverty reduction. Trade is increasingly
mainstreamed into national development and poverty reduction
strategies. In this respect, PACT is a direct contribution to the
Market Access Initiative of the New Partnership for Africa’s
Development (NEPAD).
Ghana, Senegal, South Africa and
Tanzania have been the first beneficiaries during the pilot phase (six months)
of the programme. During this phase, a number of high-priority
activities have been implemented as early ‘deliverables’.
The second phase of the
programme, which will run up to 2007, will involve up to 15
African countries.
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- All Least Developed Countries now have duty free access on most
products to the Canadian
market, commencing January 1st, 2003.
Detailed information is
available from TFOC and the
Canada
Border Services Agency.
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