EFTAM: Dutch initiative to develop marketplace for ethical products |
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| Monday, 02 March 2009 | |
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“Fair trade is ready to go mainstreaml!”, says Jan Vosen of Ethical and Fair Trade Market Place (ETFAM). Jan Vossen has 27 years of experience with fair trade, development trade and development cooperation.
He has lived and worked in many places all over the world. Currently Jan Vossen is the director of ETFAM. No lack of experience there. “That's why I call myself development entrepreneur.” ETFAM means... “The reason we started ETFAM is because we wanted to help the market. There are enough companies, European clients and producers who, especially after the credit crunch, want to do business in a socially acceptable, environmentally friendly and economically affordable way. Companies specialising in durability and fair trade are facing a new commercial challenge. We know there are a lot of European clients looking for fair trade products. ETFAM wants to bring them together. We are looking to do this in different ways. By organising a yearly B2B Trade Fair and by using the special 'Matching System'; a virtual marketplace where we connect offer and demand. At ETFAM the producers are the main player, by enlarging their market share we want them to have a better future. More work and more income. In Asia, Africa and South America there are plenty fair trade producers and organisations who are ready for the mainstream market.” So... Fair trade? “It might be a good idea to explain fair trade better. Fair trade isn't a 'brand', but a honest and lasting way of doing business. With fair trade a lot of factors are in play: the price, the environment and social factors like a safe work place, freedom of organisation, no child labour and an equal wage for women and men alike. To ensure that the fair trade principles are observed we are working with companies who are indeed fair trade, we ask all participants in the B2B trade fair to complete a special 'fair trade check'. I also know many people in the fair trade network and, if necessary, we will certainly ask questions about specific companies . What exactly is going to happen on the ETFAM Trade Fair? “First of all it is a B2B-market; the focus is on business to business. At the Fair ETFAM offers producer companies the opportunity to present themselves. We expect at least 50 Asian companies to be present in 2009, and there are about 150 stands of European traders as well. Together they will offer a variety of products, selling both food and handicrafts and gifts. The Trade Fair is a trading place where customers and producers can meet and do business. For the public, it is a brilliant meeting place to enjoy the rich variety and admire the quality of fair trade products! And to meet the producers. Because that is what fair trade is about: it is all about people.” ETFAM & … The World Shops Erika Spil, head of projects for the National Society of World Shops and member of the board of IFAT (the global Fair Trade organisation). “The National Society of World Shops (in the Netherlands they are the largest chain of shops selling only fair trade products) is one of ETFAMs partners. Also the world shops are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. That party will be celebrated on the ETFAM market in September. “The cooperation with ETFAM is very important for us, because we own nearly 400 shops and the fair trade market is growing to big for us. We would like to see fair trade producers to be able to go somewhere else then just our shops. ETFAM is of course the suitable partner. On the market we are planning on having a great party, which we are working towards in various ways. We will make sure the different stand owners show their best products!” EVD, international business and cooperation Jane Nyokabi Aerts, working with the team International Organisations at EVD international business and cooperation. “When I first heard of ETFAM my initial thoughts were: 'another fair trade attempt'. My opinion changed when I heard they wouldn't work with fair trade food, but with durable items like office supplies. I think there are more and more companies looking for that specific kind of supplies. So what can EVD do to help ETFAM? We have been in meetings and searched for similarities between our organisations, like the Match Making facility (MMF). With this instrument companies in developing countries can get in touch with Dutch companies, for instance to sell their products in the EU.” ======================================================================================================== Ecozona is loohing for agents Ecozona.org is looking for agents who shares our sustainable philosophy ... Check out the website http://www.ecozona.org . Informatien: ask for Siebenmann, Sibi. at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it |
