Dominican Republic: JAD-COLEACP webinar 3 on tools and partners for exporting to Europe

COLEACP is collaborating with the Dominican Agroenterprise Board (Junta Agroempresarial Dominicana, JAD) to present a webinar series on market access for processed products in the pineapple, mango and avocado sectors. The webinars are part of the CALIFRUP project, “Quality enhancement for the development of MSMEs in the processed fruit value chain”.

The third webinar, on 10 March, emphasised the importance for exporters and processor of figuring out from the start the type of market they want to conquer. This strategy will help companies to find the right allies within the supply chain – if a company wants to be seen by buyers as serious and reliable, it’s very important that all partners in the supply chain are up to standard, and understand the importance of cooperation and continuous dialogue, responsiveness and resilience, and quality and traceability. Companies also need to identify the right buyers, and a narrative that is adapted to their needs. For example, if I want to get into the Fairtrade or organic market, I can’t give vague answers about the working conditions under which my product is processed.

The webinar was presented by Mrs Veronica RUBIO (a trade lawyer specialising in promoting sustainable value chains), Mrs Wendy JIMENEZ (business consultant/specialist advisor for SMEs), and Mrs Maria DE LOURDES NÚÑEZ (of the Consejo Nacional de Competitividad, Dominican Republic).

This activity is supported by the Fit For Market programme, implemented by COLEACP within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union, and co-funded by the French Development Agency (AFD).