Dried Pineapple Benin

Do you have a dried pineapple business in Benin? Are you interested in an improved position in international markets? The Netherlands Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI) can help you. If you want to enter new international markets, CBI's dried pineapple project offers you good opportunities:

• Find out which opportunities there are for your company in European and regional markets;
• Learn more about European and regional requirements, legislation and certification;
• Learn everything you need to know to be a successful exporter;
• Get assistance from our sector experts;
• Exhibit at leading international trade fairs such as SIAL and Biofach.

 

Project details

This project focuses on the dried pineapple sector in Benin. It aims to empower women throughout the value chain and promote decent working conditions for women employees. The project also aims to support the sustainable production of high-quality dried pineapple and increase exports to the European Union (EU) market.

To achieve its goals, the project focuses on:

1. Decent working conditions for women at Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs);
2. Empowering female workers to advocate for their rights and needs. This involves organising focus group discussions, providing specialised job training and facilitating dialogue at the company level;
3. Sector acceptance. This involves making best practices visible in the sector and ensuring sector associations function as a platform for more women engagement.

This project started in December 2022 and will end in 2027.

What can you expect from this CBI project?

CBI offers technical assistance through a practical business export coaching project. CBI prepares your company with the skills and knowledge you need to enter the European market. The project includes:

• 4 years of personalised, one-on-one company coaching. Highly-qualified international experts provide coaching. This is tailored to your specific needs;
• A market orientation mission abroad to explore export opportunities
• Help to create an international market entry strategy;
• Advice on what certification is suitable for your market entry strategy;
• Coaching on certification;
• Assessments and support to create a plan to improve your responsible business conduct practices on a social and environmental level;
• Participation in international trade fairs and other B2B matchmaking activities;
• Training on production improvement, certification, marketing and communication, packaging, digital solutions, international trade fair participation, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), gender and decent work, waste management, improved agricultural practices and processing.

 

Who can apply?

Country: Benin; Sector: Dried pineapple; Products: Dried pineapple.

You can apply for this project if your company meets the following requirements:

• Type of company: pineapple processing companies/cooperatives or producer associations with a pineapple processing entity;
• Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs): 25 - 500 employees. This includes seasonal workers. Exceptions can be made based on the proportions of permanent and seasonal employees. We will look at this on a case-by-case basis;
• At least 51% of the company is locally owned;
• No joint venture with a company based in a non-developing country;
• No licensing commitments that prohibit or limit exports to the EU;
• Competitive prices and sufficient production capacity;
• Management that can communicate in English;
• You have not participated in a CBI export coaching project before;
• Willing to meet international market requirements;
• Willing and able to invest in changes necessary for the European market. These may include product assortment and production processes;

CBI experts select participants based on the criteria above. CBI will consult with partner organisations in each country.

What do we expect from you?

CBI is looking for ambitious and highly motivated SMEs that are:

• Pro-active and flexible;
• Fully committed to the activities and external coaching throughout the project;
• Willing to pay for costs related to activities. For example, part of the costs for trade fair participation and sustainability activities. CBI and its partners do not cover the costs of travelling, lodging and sending in samples;
• Willing to invest in improving CSR practices in their company;
• Willing to improve working conditions of women employees and to empower women to advocate for their needs and priorities at the company level;
• Willing to take part with dedicated and qualified people during all CBI visits, workshops and training sessions. Please note that all activities will be in English;
• Willing to invest time into the action plan made for their company;
• Committed to investing in the necessary changes to become successful in international markets and increase sustainability. Changes may apply to staff allocation, promotion of gender and women's working conditions, products, production and export marketing;
• Willing to provide CBI and its partners with their company's name, logo and achievements for the promotion of the project;
• Willing to inform CBI about the company's progress in export and sustainability. CBI will treat the provided information as confidential;
• Ambitious and motivated to take the next step with their company.

We will include all these agreements in a commitment letter between CBI and your company or cooperative.

Costs

You do not have to pay a fee to take part in this project. CBI will finance most project costs, but participants must pay for the following costs:

• Investments within your company that are necessary to meet international export requirements. These include, for example, new machinery, extra staff, auditing for certification, new websites and marketing material.
• Flights, accommodation and other travel expenses for taking part in international trade show activities within the project.
• Domestic travel expenses if training sessions are outside your city.

Please note that CBI will cover transport, accommodation and some meals during the market orientation mission at the beginning of the project. Also, CBI pays for training sessions, venues, and personal technical assistance from international experts to help your business become export ready. CBI arranges and pays for participation at exhibitions and the organisation of other matchmaking activities with international buyers.

Partners

• ENABEL
• We Social Movements (WSM)
• Initiatives Pour l'Accès de tous Au Developpement – Alliances Contre la Faim et la Malnutrition (IPAD/ACFM)
• APIEx
• The Netherlands embassy in Benin

 

More information

For questions or more information, please contact agriculture@cbi.eu. If you want to read about this project in French, please download the brochure: CBI l'ananas séché – Benin.

Interested?

The deadline for completing the application form was 31 August 2023. If you missed the deadline but are interested in taking part in this project, please email us at agriculture@cbi.eu.

We will contact you as soon as possible if we select your company for the next phase in the application process.