Europe. Your perfect market!

Export to new markets - with good advice and a solid network.

 

Fresh fruit and vegetables. Natural ingredients for foods, pharmaceutics and cosmetics.
Cut flowers. Technical wood. Sustainable tourism.

Are you a producer based in Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia or Kyrgyzstan? In Colombia, Nepal, Peru, Sri Lanka, Tunisia or Ukraine? And you would like to take your products to Europe? To increase your international market presence?

The Import Promotion Desk (IPD) can support you. We will provide neutral, expert and cost-effective advice to enable you to establish the know-how and contacts you need to sell to the European market successfully and sustainably.

Our services are geared towards small and medium-sized companies from emerging markets and developing countries with few or no existing contacts to Europe. Any company which fulfils our programme criteria can apply to IPD.

The IPD contributes to achieving international development policy objectives. Our work helps our partner companies boost their innovativeness, create added value and enhance their international competitiveness. At the same time we contribute to strengthening the economic structures in our partner countries.

The European Union is one of the most profitable selling markets in the world for almost all types of products. Its 28 member states and strong national economies make for a huge internal market with 512 million inhabitants. First and foremost among them is Germany, a country with a population of 83 million, tens of thousands of top companies, wholesalers and importers – all of them constantly on the lookout for new and exciting products.

We put you in touch with the right importers

Import regulations, quality standards, mandatory certificates ... – exporting to Europe is challenging and full of red tape. There are many risks and uncertainties. The Import Promotion Desk can help you reduce the costs related to the initiation, negotiation and management of your export business. Gain time and security. Because we have the contacts, information and communication channels you need to find European customers.

Hand in hand with the German private sector

The IPD is an initiative established by the Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services (BGA) and sequa gGmbH – the development organisation and partner of the German private sector. We are funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). 

News on Covid-19 effects

IPD continues to support SMEs in exporting to Europe.
Due to the cancellation of trade fairs and selling missions, IPD reacts flexibly and extends its range of online services for exporters and local partner organisations to prepare them for the European market, such as online seminars and e-coaching sessions on export-related topics. Get in touch with us!

On the occasion of the Covid-19 crisis, IPD partner CBI offers SMEs short news articles to keep them up to date with developments on the European market. First published articles refer for example on the tourism sector or fresh fruit sector. Read more on CBI

IPD Digital Coaching Weeks

Currently, IPD exporters are being individually advised on 37 export-relevant topics in the context of 1-on-1 coaching via Internet (video) telephone. IPD experts support the companies on topics such as CSR & sustainability, crisis management, traceability in production etc.


Tove Antonissen, IPD expert: "The companies highly appreciate our coaching offer. They are happy to do something to move forward and to be able to do something at all in this situation!"

»IPD gives us exposure to the European market and introduces us to the European business culture – how to greet, how to talk, how to be, until how to finish up a deal.
IPD definitely gave us a great push, especially at the beginning. IPD helped us to find matches, they visited our factory twice last year and they really care about the quality of our products.«

Egypt: Verde
Mohamed El Rakhawy

Co-Founder of Verde

Click here to listen to the complete interview

»IPD has been an excellent support for us. 
At Anuga, for example, I had the opportunity to explore the fair with an IPD expert, being coached on how to approach customers and how to be more efficient on our sales talks. It was a great opportunity because we received instant feedback on how to modify our presentation depending on the business partner.«

Colombia: Del Alba
Juliana Dorronsoro
VP Marketing & Sales

Click here to listen to the complete interview

»IPD trained us on how to promote our products on the European market and invited us to our first Anuga. IPD has been supporting us online, connects us to prospective buyers and clients, and is doing a lot of great work for us.«

Ethiopia: Edao International Trading
Edao Abdi

Managing Manager

Click here to listen to the complete interview

»IPD helped us to find new contacts and to learn how best to communicate with customers. And how to present our products at trade fairs. It was a successful experience. During the trade fairs there is always an expert from IPD present at our booth, helping us to get in touch with new customers and to make an efficient follow-up via mail with our clients.«

Tunisia: Green Fruits
Mustapha Sghaier

CEO Green Fruits

Click here to listen to the complete interview

»IPD has supported us in searching and developing new markets. Anuga is our first exhibition fair. We came here with great expectations and now we have new contacts in new trending markets.«

Peru: Kumara Food
Pierina Cia

Export & Sales

Click here to listen to the complete interview

»The most important thing for any starting companies like us is access to the market. IPD has enabled this access and introduced us to most of our customers and taught us to train our staff to meet the expectations of our European customers.«

Kyrgyzstan: Sun Planet Organic
Yury Rahubin
CEO Sun Planet Organic

Click here to listen to the complete interview

NEWS

Berlin // 07.02.2020
ITB 2020: Sustainable travel offers from developing and emerging countries
 
Berlin // 07.02.2020

ITB 2020: Sustainable travel offers from developing and emerging countries

Import Promotion Desk supports exhibitors from Ecuador, Nepal and Tunisia at ITB 2020
Bonn/Berlin, 04.02.2020 – Sustainable tourism offers from selected emerging and develop-ing countries are in the focus of the trade fair presentation of the Import Promotion Desk (IPD) at the ITB 2020. The German initiative for import and tourism promotion will present new tour operators from Ecuador, Tunisia and Nepal at the international tourism trade fair, taking place in Berlin from 4 to 8 March. The travel offers particularly consider aspects of sustainability and environmental and social compatibility. They range from ecological tours in the unknown north of Tunisia to bicycle tours in Nepal and the community-based tourism project Yunguilla in Ecuador. Around 20 travel companies from the three developing countries will be represented at the IPD stand (hall 5.2A | stand 113) and at the country stands of Ecuador (hall 23A | stand 110) and Tunisia (hall 21B | stand 216/217).

Press release: Sustainable travel offers from developing and emerging countries
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187 KB PDF
Bonn/Nürnberg // 27.01.2020
BIOFACH 2020: IPD presents coconut specialities from Sri Lanka
 
Bonn/Nürnberg // 27.01.2020

BIOFACH 2020: IPD presents coconut specialities from Sri Lanka

IPD supports exhibitors from Sri Lanka and ten more partner countries at Biofach.

Bonn/Berlin, 27.01.2020 – At this year’s Biofach the product variety of the coconut palm is presented by exhibitors from Sri Lanka: They are bringing a variety of coconut specialities such as dried coconut, virgin coconut oil, coconut blossom sugar, coconut butter, coconut flour, coconut milk and coconut water to the world's leading trade fair for organic food, which takes place in Nuremberg from February 12 to 15. Further highlights from Sri Lanka are spices such as Ceylon cinnamon and different varieties of pepper, as well as essential oils. Besides the exhibitors from Sri Lanka, the Import Promotion Desk (IPD) supports exporters from Colombia, Côte d´Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ecuador, Ghana, Indonesia, Kyrgyz-stan, Tunisia and Ukraine. They will be presenting their regional specialities in organic qual-ity at the joint stand of IPD and the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) (Booth 3A | 3A-220) as well as at the national pavilions.

Press release: Biofach 2020 - IPD presents coconut specialities from Sri Lanka
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189 KB PDF
Bonn/Berlin // 15.01.2020
Fruit Logistica 2020: Pitahayas, Physalis & Co. - Ecuador convinces with fruity variety
 
Bonn/Berlin // 15.01.2020

Fruit Logistica 2020: Pitahayas, Physalis & Co. - Ecuador convinces with fruity variety

Import Promotion Desk (IPD) supports exporters from Ecuador and seven more partner countries at the international trade fair for fruits and vegetables

Bonn/Berlin, 16.01.2020 – Ecuador is known for its biodiversity and offers a wide range of tropical fruits. The South American country lives up to its reputation at this year's Fruit Logistica, which takes place in Berlin from 5. to 7. of February. With bananas, pineapples, pitahayas, physalis and passionfruit, the exhibitors present a richly filled fruit basket (Hall
21 Booth B‐06). Import Promotion Desk (IPD), the German initiative for import promotion, has been supporting the partner country of this year's Fruit Logistica for two years now, and
accompanies producers to the European market. This year the IPD brings six companies from Ecuador to the international trade fair. In total, over 40 companies from eight IPD partner countries ‐ from Egypt, Ethiopia, Ecuador, Côte d`Ivoire, Ghana, Colombia, Peru and the Ukraine ‐ will present their range of fresh fruits and vegetables in Berlin.

Press release: IPD at Fruit Logisitca 2020
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200 KB PDF

Events

Trade fair in Barcelona // 06.10. - 08.10.2020
In-cosmetics 2020
 
Trade fair in Barcelona // 06.10. - 08.10.2020

In-cosmetics 2020

Establishing contacts

in-cosmetics – the leading event for personal care ingredients – brings together over 800 exhibitors of ingredients, fragrances, lab equipment, testing and regulatory solutions, as well as over 12,000 cosmetic manufacturers from over 115 countries.

On this international trade fair, IPD will support well-prepared export companies from Colombia, Ecuador and the Côte d`Ivoire. They get the opportunity to exhibit their new, exotic ingredients to the European market, win new clients and get to know the latest trends.
All exporters presented are carefully prepared by IPD. Thus ensuring they are equipped with the required certificates for the European market and are familiar with the demands of the European trade sector.
Immediately before and during the fair the IPD will offer practical support for the exhibition, including e.g. compilation of current market information, guidance on stand decoration, sales training for successful communication with potential customers.
Through targeted matchmaking, IPD will network these exporters with the right importers in the EU, arranging initial contacts before the fair, organizing and accompanying b2b meetings during the exhibition and supporting the follow-up after the fair is over.
Are you an exporter based in one of our partner countries? And would you like to present your products at international exhibitions in Europe? To enter the selection process, please contact us.

Andreas Gemählich

www.in-cosmetics.com

 

Trade fair in Madrid/Spain // 20.10. - 22.10.2020
Fruit Attraction 2020
 
Trade fair in Madrid/Spain // 20.10. - 22.10.2020

Fruit Attraction 2020

Get to know the fruit and vegetables market in Europe!
Make promising contacts to European importers!

Fruit Attraction – one of the leading trade fairs of the fruit and vegetable sector – attracts around 95, 000 visitors from 140 countries every year. Companies from across the entire fresh produce sector – from global players to small and medium-sized enterprises and organisations from all over the world – get an overview of the latest innovations, products and services from every link in the international supply chain. This fair thus offers ideal networking and contact opportunities to key decision-makers in every sector of the industry.

In 2020, IPD will present reliable exporters of high-quality fruit and vegetables from Egypt, Ethiopia, Ecuador, Ghana, Colombia, Peru and Ukraine.

All exporters are carefully prepared by IPD. Thus ensuring they are equipped with the required certificates for the European market and are familiar with the demands of the German trade sector.
Immediately before and during the fair IPD will offer practical support for the exhibition, including e.g. compilation of current market information, guidance on stand decoration, sales training for successful communication with potential customers. Through targeted matchmaking, IPD will network these exporters with suitable importers in the EU, arranging initial contacts before the fair, organizing and accompanying b2b meetings during the exhibition and supporting the follow-up after the fair is over.

Are you an exporter based in one of our partner countries? And would you like to present your products at Fruit Logistica? To enter the selection process, please contact us.

Linda Mense

www.fruitattraction.com

Trade fair in France/Nantes // 03.02. - 05.02.2021
Carrefour International du Bois - new date!
 
Trade fair in France/Nantes // 03.02. - 05.02.2021

Carrefour International du Bois - new date!

Due to the continuing spread of the coronavirus Sars-CoV-2, the leading trade fair for wood processing - the Carrefour International du Bois - has been postponed.
The new date is now 03. - 05.02.2021.

IPD will present selected wood suppliers from Ecuador and Colombia at the fair. The reliable partners will bring a wide product portfolio of teak and bamboo to the fair.

All exporters presented are carefully prepared by IPD. Thus ensuring they are equipped with the required certificates for the European market and are familiar with the demands of the European trade sector.
Immediately before and during the fair the IPD will offer practical support for the exhibition, including e.g. compilation of current market information, guidance on stand decoration, sales training for successful communication with potential customers.
Through targeted matchmaking, IPD will network these exporters with the right importers in the EU, arranging initial contacts before the fair, organizing and accompanying b2b meetings during the exhibition and supporting the follow-up after the fair is over.

Are you an exporter based in one of our partner countries? And would you like to present your products at international exhibitions in Europe? To enter the selection process, please contact us.

Frank Maul

www.timbershow.com

Trainings in Europe
Sales training at trade fairs
 
Trainings in Europe

Sales training at trade fairs

Achieve new contacts to potential buyers in the EU.
Make your sales talks effective and successful.
Generate sustainable profits.

These are the goals of face-to-face contact at an international trade fairs.
But how to negotiate with potential European buyers and tour operators? How to present your products and services attractively in a short time during a meeting? How to master difficult dialogues? What are the business practices in Europe concerning communication, understanding of time, social manners and negotiation strategies?

In order to be well prepared for those issues, the IPD organizes sales trainings for exporters and tour operators participating in the IPD programme.
Those specialized trainings provide companies from our partner countries with the skills, concepts and methods which will help to influence the decisions of the counterparts and enhance the prospects of the trade fair participation.

The IPD experts will equip you with different tools and techniques to present your products and services to European buyers in a way that they will be familiar with – so that intercultural differences will not have a negative influence on your business talks. 

During the trade fair, you can put your newly acquired skills into practice. For this, IPD experts accompany pre-arranged meetings with potential business partners and give direct feedback. With this preparation, business with European buyers run smoothly and without any trouble.

Do you operate in one of the five sectors in our partner countries? And would you like to participate in the IPD programme? To enter the selection process, please contact us.

Contact

PUBLICATIONS

Success Story
Organic peanuts from Egypt
 
Success Story

Organic peanuts from Egypt

Import Promotion Desk assists African growers in exporting ecological products

African countries offer a wide variety of top-quality products for which there is great demand on the EU market. Import Promotion Desk (IPD) introduces selected suppliers of organic foods to European traders. The Egyptian exporter Logistic Nuts for Agricultural Development is a new supplier which, with assistance from the IPD, has converted to ecological farming and is now capturing the market with organic peanuts.

Organic peanuts from Egypt
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666 KB PDF
Success Story
Success for organic products from Ethiopia on the EU market
 
Success Story

Success for organic products from Ethiopia on the EU market

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.

Organic products from Ethiopia
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2 MB PDF
Success Story
Pure oils from Ethiopian medicinal plants
 
Success Story

Pure oils from Ethiopian medicinal plants

Import Promotion Desk makes EU market accessible for African producers

With support from the IPD, Ethiopian company Hayat Cosmo Industry PLC was able to present its products from pure black cumin oil at European trade fairs. The trade fair success encouraged Hayat to expand its offerings to European customers, so that the company now also produces essential oils. Investment in the new product developments has paid off for the Ethiopian company: At in-cosmetics trade fair in Paris, Hayat successfully presented its new product range for the first time.

Pure oils from Ethiopia
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983 KB PDF

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