Project purpose
Goal of this project is primarily to promote bilateral trade and investment in the horticulture sector between Netherlands on the one hand and Guatemala, Nicaragua and Costa Rica on the other hand. One of the main obstacles for this sectors is their poor access to high value markets.
A Dutch trade mission can contribute to an increase of the horticultural (and agricultural) competitiveness of the Central American region through increasing market access and better knowledge on issues like food safety and climate volatility.
The objectives of the trade mission are as follows:
- matchmaking between CA exporters and Dutch importers
- promote Dutch initiatives to adapt horticulture to climate volatility (e.g. adapted varieties, protected culture, greenhouses)
- promote Dutch sustainable solutions / added value initiatives
- present opportunities/niches and gain insight into obstacles for Dutch companies in the agri-food sector in CA
- promote Dutch private sector development tools both for local and Dutch companies (e.g PUM,PSD Apps, PIB, DGGF, FDOV).
Project results
The result of this project is a trade mission in the horticulture sector matching:
a) demand from CA in terms of productivity with supply from Holland in terms of technology and
b) supply from CA in terms of export volumes with demand from EU and The Netherlands in particular.
This will result in a concrete trade mission program covering Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Guatemala in one week, including participation in the regional Agritrade fair by the end of that week. Although the main focus of this mission will be on the less developed Nicaraguan market and on Guatamala, Costa Rica cannot be left out since it is considered the most important agro producer / exporter of the region. The embassy will support and assist with a tailor-made one-day matchmaking program in CR.
This project is part of the follow-up of the visit of ProNicaragua to the Netherlands in October 2014 and will be combined with the agritrade fair which takes place in Guatemala on March 12 and 13. During the Agritrade the Dutch embassy will organise an orange pavilion, a seminar and a Holland day. The costs for the pavilion and the seminar are not part of this mission; they are separately catered for by embassy and RVO.
The missions is aiming at 25 Dutch companies in the horticulture sector. The minimum required amount of Dutch companies participating will be 15.
This may include some of the Dutch fruit importers that have been targeted by CBI’s Central American Agro Food program, in which 70 countries (of which 13 from Nicaragua and 30 from Guatemala) are participating in order to increase export to EU market. Both AGexport and APEN are two of their partners who are involved in capacity building programs. CBI will try to bring Dutch importers to the Agrotrade fair. This may be financially supported (air tickets) by AG export.
Recently the Dutch embassy assigned a consultant to map business opportunities (a.o. leads for DGGF) and bottlenecks in Nicaragua and Guatemala related in a.o. the agrifood sector. The results of this study (to be expected in December) can be used in further developing the program of this trade mission. The opportunities and bottlenecks that will be identified during this study ánd during the mission, can be addressed in 2015 through private sector development programs of RVO and its partners.
Location
Managua
Executor
FME-CWM
Budget
€ 54.701
Project status
Closed
Project activities
Sunday
Arrival in Costa Rica with informal kick-off and dinner hosted by the Ambassador
Monday
Matchmaking (morning), lunch hosted by CADEX; transfer by plane from Costa Rica to Managua (late afternoon/evening)
Tuesday
Breakfast hosted by ProNicaragua, presentation of the agro food sector (morning); company visits (afternoon)
Wednesday
Company visits (morning); matchmaking (afternoon)
Thursday
Transfer Managua-Guatemala (morning); company visits (afternoon)
Friday
Holland Day at the Agritrade fair including seminar and matchmaking
Saturday (optional)
Company visits (morning), individual meetings (afternoon)
Sunday 15th
Departure
With regard to the company visits two parallel programs will be organised. One parallel program will focus on the floriculture while the other will include fruits and vegetables.
Dutch sector organisations such as Dutch Seed Valley, FrugiVenta, AVAG and Land- en Tuinbouw Organisatie Nederland (LTO) will be involved for the promotion of the mission.
The three local counterparts will be consulted to discuss the program (companies to be visited). It is suggested to ask PRONICARAGUA which products and companies are they thinking to promote and support on the AgriTrade Fair in Guatemala.
The promotion of Dutch trade instruments during the prescheduled gathering of the participants will be organised. This will contribute to a better success ratio of Dutch companies looking for horticulture business in Central Amercia.