Bonn, February 16, 2016 – The Import Promotion Desk (IPD), the import promotion service provider in Germany, is expanding its cooperation with Egypt. To that purpose representatives of the IPD and the Egyptian Agricultural Export Council (AEC) signed a memorandum of understanding at the Fruit Logistica trade fair where Egypt participated as a partner country. Until 2018, the IPD will help Egyptian producers become ready for export. „With this agreement we want to promote sustainable and structured import from Egypt and strengthen the local private sector. Because successful import promotion benefits both importers and exporters“, says Dr. Julia Hoffmann , head of the IPD.

At the Fruit Logistica the IPD showcased two exhibitors from Egypt. One of them, the Egyptian Grower’s Organization (EGO), took part in the trade fair for the first time. An association of five agricultural businesses which farm in the country’s different climate zones, the EGO is able to offer single-source products such as fresh mangoes, pomegranates and grapes over an extended period of time. At the Fruit Logistica the group conducted several positive business talks including one that promises a business deal for mangoes.

First-ever Ethiopian country booth

The IPD also presented the world’s first Ethiopian country booth at a trade fair for fruit and vegetables. German companies were especially interested in the beans, chilies, strawberries, grapes and snow peas offered by the four Ethiopian exporters. Initial successful business talks were conducted by the Meki-Batu Union, the largest association of cooperatives in Ethiopia, which participated in the trade fair following an invitation by the IPD. The IPD exhibitor portfolio at the Fruit Logistica was complemented by Tunisia and Colombia.

Import Promotion Desk brings a broad range of specialities to Anuga

Bonn, 12.09.2017 – At Anuga, the world’s largest food industry exhibition, to be held in Cologne from 7 to 11 October 2017, the Import Promotion Desk (IPD) will be attending with 18 producers from 7 countries. Exporters from Ethiopia, Egypt, Kyrgyzstan, Tunisia, Columbia, Indonesia and Peru will be supported by the IPD in presenting their products at the exhibition. The companies offer high quality natural ingredients from their regions.

German import promotion initiative is now active in 13 countries and 5 sectors

Bonn/Berlin, 25.07.2018 – Since 2012, the Import Promotion Desk (IPD) has assisted small-to-medium-sized enterprises in selected developing and emerging counties to ac-cess the European market. In its third project phase, the IPD expands activities to 13 partner countries and five sectors. The IPD supports export companies on the so-called "last mile"– it accompanies producers to the European market, arranges contacts with importers, thereby closing a strategic gap at the interface of development cooperation and foreign trade.

IPD procures new trade partner for the Ethiopian exporter GreenPath Food

GreenPath Food is Ethiopia’s first – and, up until now, its only – certified EU-organic producer and exporter organisation in the fruit and vegetable sector. Import Promotion Desk (IPD) added the company to its export promotion programme in 2017. With support of IPD, GreenPath Food was able to raise awareness for its products at European trade fairs and to establish successful trade relations. For two years now, they have been in close cooperation with the Hamburg-based import organisation ElbeFruit Europe, which markets EU-organically certified avocados, vegetables and fresh herbs from GreenPath Food in German-speaking countries. Their cooperation in the organic trade sector opens up new opportunities for both partners.