Capítulo 6 Salí a buscar caídos
7. Un general y un poeta
HANS-PETER EGLER1
International trade as an engine for growth can substantially contribute to poverty reduc- tion in developing countries. Trade attracts investments, creates jobs and thus provides crucial income also for the poor. Therefore, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), which is responsible for economic development cooperation in Switzerland, sup- ports the strengthening of trade capacities of developing countries at the policy, institu- tional and entrepreneurial levels. In the area of trade-related technical assistance, SECO’s activities are, therefore, aimed at encouraging a trade friendly environment and strengthen- ing trade policies in SECO’s beneficiary countries. Furthermore, SECO seeks to enhance the international trade competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in its partner countries by promoting a sustainable export economy. In addition, SECO’s efforts focus on improving access to the Swiss market for products from developing and transition countries.
Organic farming as an opportunity for small and medium sized producers
Industrialized countries have experienced growing interest for all kind of specialty and premium products in recent years. SECO believes that organic goods are part of this emerg- ing market segment. Particularly in Switzerland and other European markets, the organic market is very mature and enjoys a growing penetration beyond the food and beverage industry. The growing demand for organic products in Switzerland and other industrial countries offers therefore a very good opportunity for small and medium sized producers from developing countries. As the usual critical question of necessary production volumes is less salient in these markets, SECO has focused its attention in part on organic produc- tion. This offers a promising market opportunity for producers from developing and emerg- ing countries.
Four main pillars to support the organic market
SECO’s strategy to support the strengthening of the organic market follows four main pil- lars:
- the support of the establishment of independent local organic certification bodies,
- development of national market initiatives,
- development of international market initiatives and value chains and
- the promotion of organic imports to Europe.
Local organic certifying bodies: many advantages for the organic market
SECO has assisted in the establishment of independent, local organic certifying bodies in India, Lebanon, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Albania and Romania. All projects have been imple- mented in partnership with the Swiss Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL). Local organic certifiers accrue several advantages for the organic market. For instance, the setting up of local organic certifying bodies improves the necessary know-how on the local
1 Hans-Peter Egler, Head Trade Promotion, Federal Department of Economic Affairs FDEA, State Secretariat for
DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT:SECO
level. The international organic market, however, can also benefit from better trained local certifiers, who are able to bring local knowledge into international standard setting negotia- tions. Lastly, small and medium sized producers get easier access to organic certification through local certification bodies.
Organic market initiatives to boost the local market
SECO also promotes organic market initiatives on the national level, through its imple- menting agency FiBL. The objective of such initiatives is to build partnerships among the major national market forces to boost penetration of the local market of organic goods. In India, for example, this initiative resulted in the establishment of India Organic, the national Indian organic trade fair.
International market initiatives to promote organic exports and improve market access
Furthermore, SECO focuses on international market initiatives to promote organic exports and improve the access to the Swiss or European markets. Three complementary ap- proaches have been applied to increase organic exports from developing or transitions countries. The first approach focuses on the strengthening of national export promotion know-how. Through the second approach, SECO tries to transfer organic know-how to existing export promotion organizations. Finally, SECO supports certain organic sectors, such as organic cotton, along the entire organic value chain, linking organic producers, traders, processors and retailers.
In order to improve the market access of organic goods from developing or transition coun- tries to Europe, SECO mandated the Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO) to sup- port organic producers at international trade fairs like BioFach. Participations at trade fairs allow organic producers to promote their products and to get the latest market informa- tion.
The example of cotton: setting up organic cotton supply chains
Since 2002, SECO has been working together with the Swiss NGO Helvetas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Kyrgyzstan on a programme to promote trade in organic cotton. This programme strives to build long-term production and trade relations in collaboration with the various sectors of the value chain: farmers, processing firms, traders, importers, and large retailers. In addition to this supply chain support, SECO supports complementary projects to improve the international trade conditions for its partner countries. An example of this is Switzerland’s support to the “Cotton Four” countries (Burkina Faso, Mali, Benin and Chad) in the formulation of their cotton related submissions in WTO negotia- tions.
The cotton supply chain programme’s objective is to make organic cotton less of a niche product and more of a mainstream product. Thanks to the growing demand from Swiss consumers for textiles made of organic cotton, this programme has managed to draw the Swiss textile industry and retailers into a sustainable development strategy. The private players in the programme are proving their professionalism and commitment in their collaboration along the supply chain and are very inter- ested in continuing the programme despite the textile industry’s current struggle with the global economic crisis . Fortunately, growth in sales volumes is expected to pick up again next year.
DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT:ITC