The SRECA project, implemented by GIZ on behalf of the BMZ, has organised a virtual training themed on “Setting up export promotion services in the agri-food sector” for delegates from chambers, associations and relevant government agencies in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam and Mongolia from 16 March to 20 April on weekly basis for five training sessions.
The underpinning goal of this training has been to strengthen the capacity of the delegates to improve their export structures domestically; also to especially support small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises in the aforementioned four countries to respond to the economic consequences of the COVID 19 pandemic along agricultural export value chains. The training format was triangular where participants from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam and Mongolia have received inputs from both European and Chinese experts. SRECA has conducted the training jointly with the GIZ Regional Office West and the Import Promotion Desk (IPD) implemented by sequa as the key facilitators of the training. Furthermore, SRECA together with the China Entry-Exit Inspection & Quarantine Association (CIQA), the General Administration of Customs China (GACC), and the Agricultrual Trade Promotion Agency (ATPC) from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) identified suitable Chinese experts to facilitate market access to China.
Each training session was three-hour-long and combining technical inputs from the German and Chinese side. Presentations of the German and European experts emphasised the experience and methodology to strengthen domestic export structures. The European experts specifically delved into the skills of market research, how to organise export related trainings, B2B activities and digital services and data management. The Chinese inputs were focusing more upon specific agricultural import procedures, requirements, food safety standards, Chinese customs’ utilisation of smart tools and China’s organisation of exhibitions to support domestic businesses landing their trade partners (for more details please see the agenda).
This round of online training will be followed-up by SRECA and its partners in China and Germany with further live virtual triangular exchange in the second half of 2021. This might also include specific country sessions for Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam and Mongolia to improve their conditions for regional and global agricultural trade.