Virtual trade fair pitch: The path to an optimal trade fair presence

Innovative exhibition promotion of German development cooperation

For small and medium-sized enterprises from the global South, exhibiting at a European trade fair can be a great opportunity: Product presentations in front of potential customers, establishing trade partnerships and, above all, increased visibility in international competition.

The virtual trade fair pitch of the Business Scouts for Development programme offers ambitious companies from developing and emerging countries precisely this opportunity.

First trade fair pitch starts in mid-May

In mid-May, the time has finally come: around 30 companies from Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia will have the opportunity to convince a jury of experts of their company and their products and services at the first virtual trade fair pitch. The trade fair pitches are offered by the Business Scouts for Development trade fair hub, a programme implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

As part of the trade fair pitch, selected companies present their products and services in a virtual exhibition environment to the expert jury. Afterwards, the jury evaluates the exhibiting companies and selects the most promising ones for subsequent funding. This comprehensive support includes advice and support as well as pro rata financial support for participation in one of the leading German or European trade fairs, including, for example, Anuga or the International Green Week. In a hybrid trade fair preparation programme lasting several months in cooperation with the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (AUMA), they are accompanied from product development and staging to trade fair participation, as well as supported in product presentation on leverist.de.

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Who can participate in the exhibition pitches?

Local companies from various regions in Africa, Asia and Latin America, including Algeria, Ethiopia, Bolivia, Brazil, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon, Namibia, Cambodia, Senegal, Uganda and countries in southern Africa, can participate in a total of seven trade fair pitches in spring and summer 2021. In the run-up, the application for participation is open to companies from all sectors and industries. Those candidates will be selected who stand out due to their entrepreneurial profile, their interest in exporting and their innovative or unique products that they have already been able to place on the local market.

The local business scouts play an important role in this process: through their close cooperation with the local business community and their broad network, they identify potential exhibitors and provide information and support those interested in applying for the pitch and preparing the virtual stand.

Country overview of the first trade fair pitch run:

Business Scouts support through their network

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.


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