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The spirit of success
Luis Castaños, Executive Director of the Dominican Association of Rum Producers, talks about the many benefits of the EPA for this reputed industry. (16/08/2010)
'Despite a challenging political and social context, the sense of entrepeneurship is strong in Kenya'
Dourice M. Ofisi, Operations and Corporate Affairs Manager of the Computer Society of Kenya, speaks big on small projects and small markets. (25/05/2010)
'The EPA will ease competition to the EU market, but development aid will still be necessary'
Felix Okatch, Convenor, Professional Business Development Committee in Kenya (07/05/2010)
'Without an increase in trade, there can be no development'
Simon Itaye, CEO, Packaging Industries in Malawi, on his experience with the EPA as a member of the private sector (30/04/2010)
'Trade leads to investment'
Mr Dev Chamroo , Director of Planning and Policy for the Board of Investment in Mauritius, on the positive side effects of preferential market access. (21/04/2010)
'Mauritius depends on its export sector for its economic development'
Danielle Wong, Director of the Mauritius Export Association (MEXA), on the importance of Trade in economic development (19/04/2010)
'We reached a positive balance with the EPA - both offensively and defensively'
Circe Almanzar, Executive Vice-president of the Industrial Association of the Dominican Republic, that played an important role during the EPA negotiations. (16/04/2010)
'EU policies are generally positive - but more could be done in the way of involving small entrepreneurs'
Tonni Mello, Managing Director of Donnell Incorporated Ltd & Cresite Kenya Ltd., and Chief Executive Officer of the Kenyan Association of Young Entrepreneurs, speaks about the importance of Business membership organisations (15/04/2010)
'The EPA will be instrumental towards the creation of viable E-commerce in Eastern Africa'
Richard Simyu, CEO of Netovations Kenya and Academic & Business Chief Programmes Officer for the Computer Society of Kenya, on the prospectives for E-business within the EPA. (15/04/2010)
'The opening of markets should increase the quality of products... for exports but also for regional markets'
Dr Mouzinho Nicol, President of the Consumer Protection Association of Mozambique, foresees positive impacts from the EU consumer protection policies and how they can be reflected in the EPA. (15/04/2010)
'We expect the EPA to contribute to the development of Mauritius'
Narainduth (Sunil) Boodhoo, Deputy Director for the International Trade Division of the Ministry of Trade in Mauritius, on the benefits of the EPA in specific sectors of the Mauritian economy. (31/03/2010)
'Thanks to compliance with EU standards, Benin is now a permanent supplier of fishery products'
Mr. Gnitassoun Dénagnon, Head of Monitoring and Control of Fishing Products and Industry in Benin, about his direct experience with the EPA (31/03/2010)
'Without an EPA, Malawi’s economy would not reach optimal growth'
Dr Thomas Munthali, President of the Economics Association of Malawi, sees an EPA as a true opportunity for his country. (31/03/2010)
'Mauritius must rely on the capacity and creativity of its people'
Pynee A. Chellapermal, Director of the Center For Documentation, Research and Training on the Southwest Indian Ocean, talks about the importance of civil society for economic progress. (31/03/2010)
'Because of their particular involvement in the EPA process, EAC countries now have a much better idea of what they want from it'
Francine Rutazana, from the Agency for Co-operation and Research in Development in Rwanda, on the key factors for a successful EPA. (30/03/2010)
'Complying with EU market standards is one of the biggest challenges for least developing countries'
Prudence Sebahizi, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in Rwanda, speaks about the importance of infrastructure and adaptation to EU standards for the industry in least developed countries. (30/03/2010)
'Trade cannot be discussed without also addressing development'
Chancellor Kaferapanjira, CEO of the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, on the strong relationship between trade and development. (30/03/2010)
Proinvest : 'We want to build strong regional markets'
Provinvest is the largest EC private sector development programme, and a key actor in facilitating investments and technology flow towards ACP countries. Technical Advisor Denis Massart explains the opportunities and challenges in this endeavour. (30/03/2010)
'Access to EU markets will create a basis for further investments in the sugar industry'
Geoff Mkandawire, chairman of the National Working Group on Trade Policy and commercial manager of Illovo Sugar Limited in Malawi, talks about the benefits of the EPA for his industry. (30/03/2010)
A sweet taste of development with the Swaziland's sugarcane industry
Mr Walter Matsebula, Marketing Manager in the Swaziland sugar industry, talks about the sugar production's contribution to rural development, thanks to trade facilitation. (30/03/2010)
'Our EPA was signed in 2008, but its full potential has yet to be seen'
Ramesh Dookooh, President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association, on the EPA benefits for his country. (30/03/2010)
'The EPA can open the door to Caribbean and Guyanese music in the EU'
Clement Duncan, Chairman of Swansea Industrial Associates in Guyana, explains the importance of the EU market and the investment and technology efforts that need to be put into the local industry to remain competitive. (30/03/2010)
What trade facilitation meant for regional producers
Houman Javahiri, owner of Jouhans Farm in Zambia, explains how improving the roadways and custom procedures tremendously helped exporters in his country. (30/03/2010)
Linking trade to development assistance makes all the difference for small Ugandan producers.
Paul Sigombe, trainer for small companies and growers in Uganda, speaks about the benefits of EU-funded programmes that go with the EU-ACP EPAs. (30/03/2010)
'EPAs also helps micro-businesses and income security', says Kathy Marshal, owner of a silk business in Addis Ababa.
Kathy Marshal, Owner and Manager of Sabahar in Ethiopia, explains how EU-ACP EPAs help women entrepreneurs and provide for steady income. (30/03/2010)
EU-ACP EPAs: the NGO perspective.
Victor Ogalo, Program Officer at Cuts Africa Resource Center in Nairobi, shares his views on the EU-ACP EPAs from a NGO perspective. (30/03/2010)
EPAs: What they mean for exporters in Kenya
Hasit Shah, director of Sunripe Ltd and chairman of Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya, outlines the main benefits that the Kenyan economy has gained from an EU-ACP Framework EPA. (30/03/2010)
With a dynamic music industry and some unique food products, Cariforum countries must make best use of IPRs and GIs.
Dianne Delay, Attorney-at-Law in Kingston, Jamaica, tells us about the implications of EPAs for the CARIFORUM countries - especially on Intellectual Property Rights and Geographical Indications. (30/03/2010)
How do EU-ACP EPAs work for the shopping baskets of EU consumers?
Robin Struve, owner of local supermarket chain “Schlemmermarkt” in Germany, explains what are the benefits of EU-ACP trade relationships towards EU consumers' daily shopping. (30/03/2010)
EPAs: What EU-ACP relations meant for growing businesses in Fiji
Gaëtane Austin, Founder and Director of “Pure Fiji”, talks about her business success and the benefits it has brought to the local economy. (30/03/2010)
'Trade is the lifeblood of any economy - and all the more so for a land-locked country like Uganda'
Harvey Rouse, Head of Political and Trade Section in the EC Delegation in Kampala, shares his views on the role of the EPA in development and regional integration. (30/03/2010)
EPAs and the global financial crisis
The global financial crisis illustrates the need for reforms throughout the world, but especially in developing countries where economic structures are exceptionally weak, says Dr San Bilal, Senior Researcher at the ECDPM. (30/03/2010)
The future lies down south: opportunities of new trade relations between ACP countries
Carlos Wharton, Senior Adviser on Trade Policy at the “Caribbean Export Development Agency”, explains how the signature of an EPA in late 2008 has unleashed opportunities for the Carribean - and how south-south trade relationship can be expected as the big new development for ACP countries. (30/03/2010)
How EPAs benefit consumers and producers
Whether you’re exporting Ghanaian cocoa to the EU, growing bananas in Kenya, or buying flowers in Marseilles, EPAs are closer to your daily life than you might think. EPAs will have direct benefits for people in the Europe and ACP countries (30/03/2010)
'Can ACP countries make Economic Partnership Agreements a fair deal?'
In 2009 the CTA (Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation), the joint EU-ACP agricultural organisation, celebrated its 25th anniversary. Vincent Fautrel, CTA’s Programme Officer/agricultural trade explains why there is reason to cheer – but no reason to stop. (30/03/2010)
Promoting business women in Africa: “High end products for high end consumers”
In an interview, Ms Nigest Haile, Director of the Centre for African Women Economic Empowerment, explains why the EU is a favoured market for women entrepeneurs in Africa. (30/03/2010)
'If you buy from ACP countries, the social impact is tremendous.'
For most ACP countries, the EU is the biggest trading partner - and access to the EU market benefits a great number of small enterprises and family businesses, explains Guy Stinglhamber, Programme Director of the Pesticides Initiative Programme (PIP) in an interview. (30/03/2010)
'The private sector has a positive take on the EPA, but more efforts are needed to communicate this to the general public'
Kekobad Patel, President of the Custom Fiscal and International Trade Policy Committee of the Confederation of Business Associations in Mozambique, on his experience with the EPA. (26/03/2010)
The interim EU-ESA EPA proves beneficial for Madagascar
Eva Razafimandimby, Director of International Relations and Economic Integration for the Ministry of Trade in Madagascar, on the interim EU-ESA EPA. (26/03/2010)
Setting new standards in quality management in West Africa
The countries of West Africa generally lack a common quality system necessary to develop a fully functioning regional market and promote integration. An EU-funded project is helping to lay these foundations. (09/03/2010)
Cross-border business matchmaking
An EU programme helps the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to build intra-regional business bridges, as well as links with European enterprises. (22/01/2010)
Fishing for solutions
An inspection revealed that some fish coming from the Philippines were not up to the Union’s health and safety standards. With EU support, the country’s authorities were able to fix the problem. (02/12/2009)
New frontiers in border control
The ex-Soviet republics in Central Asia are facing challenges in managing their borders, particularly the illicit movements across them. An EU-funded project seeks to enhance border management and boost trade along these frontiers. (30/09/2009)
Cotton helps absorb rural poverty
An EU-backed project is working to combat rural poverty in Paraguay by creating synergies between the different links in the organic cotton production chain. (08/09/2009)
Thai tech proves its environmental mettle
Thai authorities have taken massive strides towards voluntarily complying with tougher EU health, safety and environmental standards in order to protect citizens, the environment and the sustainability of the country’s main export. (04/08/2009)
First buds of private sector competitiveness
An EU-funded programme sought to boost the competitiveness of the Ugandan private sector by supporting enterprise-level activities centred on the use or acquisition of know-how. (03/07/2009)
Trade on the Nile
After years of stagnation, economic reforms in Egypt are paying off and the economy is booming. An EU-funded programme aims to boost further Egypt’s export potential. (16/06/2009)
A wholesale revamp of the Ukrainian food market
Ukrainian consumers are increasingly demanding high-quality food products, even when they are out of season. The country also has the potential to become a regional food hub. An EU project is helping Ukraine to branch out into these fruitful areas. (25/05/2009)
A sea change in the Mauritian fishing industry
The island nation Mauritius is dependent on fishing for much of its livelihood. That is why the EU has been supporting its plans to become a fishing hub. (28/04/2009)
Putting Vietnam on the tourism and IT maps
As a sign of how quickly the Vietnamese economy is developing, Vietnam became a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in January 2007. (28/04/2009)
Helping European companies find the right partner in Latin America
The AL-Invest programme is built on two unique networks that bring together businesses associations and chambers of commerce. (28/04/2009)
Helping small businesses get bigger in Algeria
Since 2002, the EU has provided more than € 57 million and worked in partnership with the Algerian Ministry for Small Businesses and Artisans to help small businesses in Algeria get bigger. (28/04/2009)
Lychee trade proves fruitful in Madagascar
Since 1998, the European Commission has been supporting the development and structuring of the Madagascan lychee trade which has captured 70% of the lucrative Christmas market in Europe – a market worth some €12 million. (27/04/2009)
Bread and … business
EU-backed programmes have helped Dominican bakers to enter new markets, boost productivity and enhance their competitiveness. (12/02/2009)
A blossoming trade relationship
Kenyan horticulture is set to go from bloom to boom following the EU’s decision to allow the import of Kenyan-certified horticultural products. (27/01/2009)
Dressed to export
Bangladesh depends on the textile sector for most of its export earnings. An EU programme is helping the country to make the most of the clothing market. (01/12/2008)
Malaysia removes import restrictions on European wines and spirits
An intervention by EU market access experts has ensured the removal of import restrictions on European wines and spirits in Malaysia. (17/11/2008)
A first for trade and development in the Caribbean
The EU and the Caribbean 15 October 2008 when they signed an Economic Partnership Agreement. A senior negotiator explains why the agreement breaks new ground in trade policy... (16/10/2008)
Korea commits to changing rules for cosmetics imports
Work by EU market access experts has resulted in a Korean commitment to change burdensome administrative requirements for EU cosmetics exporters. (22/09/2008)
EU industry consulted on new Japanese vaccine rules
After an EU Market Access Team argues the case for greater EU access to Japan's huge vaccine market, Japan invites EU companies to participate in drafting of new human vaccine rules. (06/08/2008)
New customs code will make life easier for EU exporters to Kazakhstan
After an EU Market Access Team raised concerns over the new Kazakhstan customs code, the Kazakhstan government amends its rules to axe unfair burdens on EU exporters (08/07/2008)
Argentina adopts new trade-friendly rules for high quality EU foods
Working with Argentina, an EU Market Access Team negotiates a pre-listing system that will make it easier for European producers to sell ham, cheese and other quality foods in Argentina (20/06/2008)
New Moldovan quality control law means EU drinks can flow freely
Swift action from an EU Market Access Team helps make sure that new labelling and standardisation laws in Moldova do not block EU beverages trade (04/06/2008)
