The virtual trade fair pitches of the Business Scouts for Development programme offer companies with innovative products and service ideas from developing and emerging countries the chance of comprehensive trade fair promotion and participation in expositions in Europe. After companies from Africa, participants from South America now also had the chance to convince the jury with their presentations.
First trade fair pitch in Latin America
From 25 to 28 May 2021, the second virtual trade fair pitch of the Business Scouts for Development programme took place, this time in Bolivia. Accordingly, the trade fair environment was adapted to the country-specific conditions in order to create a trade fair atmosphere as authentic as possible. After accreditation by the development policy experts of the Business Scouts for Development programme, the 29 companies from Bolivia had the chance to present their innovative companies to a jury of experts. This time, the jury consisted of representatives from La Cámara Alemana (German Chambers of Commerce Abroad Bolivia), FairPros and GIZ.
The finalists at a glance
In the first South American trade fair pitch, a total of 16 companies were able to convince the jury of experts with their presentations and will now receive access to a trade fair support programme that optimally prepares them for participation in leading German and European trade fairs. Furthermore, they will receive opportunities and support for product placement on leverist.de.
The finalists came from the textile sector, furniture production and tourism. In addition, some companies from the agricultural sector and agricultural processing were able to attract attention with their product and business presentation. Among the nine finalist agricultural companies was Inpastas, one of the largest and most modern pasta producers in the country. The company became aware of the trade fair pitches through a newsletter from the AHK Bolivia and applied with the prospect of making new business contacts. Damir Eterovic from Inpastas hopes that the high quality of the products will also attract customers outside Bolivia: "We want to make Bolivia known through its innovative products and show that we can develop high-quality products. We are also interested in getting opinions about our offer, entering into business-to-business trade and creating a customer database".
Targuet, a woman-owned packaging design and production company, is also one of the selected companies. Their sustainable products, which help to replace plastic packaging with eco-packaging, as well as their approach to corporate social responsibility, convinced the jury. "In the future, we will focus on exporting to countries that are committed to environmental protection and are willing to invest in sustainable products," says Ginny Galindo, logistics manager at Targuet.
Picture: Innovación de Bebidas
Another company from Bolivia selected for the fair promotion is the distillery Innovación de Bebidas. The company offers innovative, high-quality beverages that focus on Bolivian origin and culture in their production.
One of the things that motivated them to take part in the trade fair pitch was the prospect of participating in the Pro Wein trade fair in Germany, says Leonardo Diab from Innovación de Bebidas. "I believe that programmes like this give companies the help they need to successfully exhibit at international fairs, especially since private business development is not a particular focus in my country's government agenda."
The companies from Bolivia were the first participants in the trade fair pitch from South America. In addition to numerous other countries from Africa and Asia, there will also be a trade fair pitch for companies from Brazil in the near future.
Business Scouts promote trade fair participation
Business Scouts for Development work as development policy experts in around 40 countries worldwide. On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), they advise German, European and local companies on development policy issues and promote responsible economic engagement via cooperation projects. The Business Scouts for Development work closely with partners from the business community and vocational training organizations in Germany and locally. By being based in partner institutions and foreign chambers of commerce, they are directly integrated into the economic structure and can initiate and promote development policy approaches.
Would you like to get more information on the trade fair pitches? Frank Fromme and Sarah Vogt are available as contact persons.
