Evelyn Seltier of Trade Forum checked in with Michael Ocansey, the winner of the first-ever ITC pitching contest in 2017, to hear how his company Agrocenta has evolved since then. This start-up set out to support smallholder farmers by connecting them to big buyers, but seven years later things have...
Trade Forum
The in-depth digital knowledge platform of the International Trade Centre explores export development and trade issues in developing and least developed countries. The contributions focus on trade promotion and export development as part of the International Trade Centre’s technical cooperation programme with developing countries and economies in transition.
If you wanted to impact the lives of disadvantaged women and refugees, who are struggling to survive, what would you do? No idea? Luckily, we have young, inspiring entrepreneurs such as Tamara Gondo, who have found ways to help. Meet the 27-year-old founder and CEO of Liberty Society...
Larry Gardiner launched a vegan coconut ice cream line in Jamaica that is healthy, boasts Caribbean flavours and uses sustainably sourced ingredients from local farmer communities. Read how a successful businessman, who returned from the United States to his home country of Jamaica and...
You might have never tasted or even heard of kava, a plant indigenous to the South Pacific. But kava bars are increasingly popping up in new markets thanks to passionate traders like Michael Louzé. The Vanuatu citizen promises quality produce that empowers Indigenous farmers...
Imagine a life without clean air, where even indoors you cannot escape the fumes that come from burning coal. Difficult, isn’t it? This is the reality for many Mongolians living in one of the coldest, most polluted cities in the world, Ulaanbaatar. However, thanks to the innovations...
Mashrur Hossain uses technology to alleviate poverty, strengthen food security, and fight climate change in his home country, Bangladesh. Read about a young engineer’s AI-based solution that could change the lives of millions of smallholder farmers, even beyond Bangladesh’s...
Using biotechnology, entrepreneur Lidia Díaz from the Dominican Republic sets out to conquer the frozen vegan food market. In a creative manner, she caters to the needs of conscious consumers who care for their health and the environment – and at the same time supports her local community. Read...
How do you recultivate abandoned and degraded land, empower women’s rights and fight hunger at the same time? Plant the crop fonio, a revolutionary idea by Salma Abdulai in Northern Ghana.
A tree-to-bar chocolate brand from the Philippines gives back to community while achieving success in European markets.
As a young person, figuring out what to do with your life is never an easy task. Even more so for young women in least developed economies. This is the inspiring story of Naila Sakandé from Burkina Faso who weaved her way to financial independence – and has big dreams.
Pinphet Phongsouli not only made drip coffee popular in her hometown of Pakse, but is also a café owner, the first Lao woman to be certified as Q grader, and a Robusta and Arabica coffee producer.
Making a profit in the creative industries is challenging. The more so in developing countries, where fine arts are not yet valued enough as a stable, income-generating profession. Musa Sarr from the Gambia is hoping to change that.