Africa

About WACOMP Guinea

As an implementing partner of the WACOMP Guinea programme, the International Trade Centre (ITC) is working to revive Guinea’s pineapple sector by facilitating access to  international markets. Areas that need improving are production and processing and conforming to  international norms and standards. 

ITC supports pineapple farmers and exporters by:  

• Identifying market opportunities for Guinean pineapples 

• Developing and supporting the implementation of a marketing plan for the promotion of Guinean pineapples 

• Accompanying and monitoring ITC clients as they seek to enter new export markets 

• Creating links with target markets, including through international trade fairs, B2B buyer/seller meetings, market orientation visits and training on best practices. 

Guinea's pineapple sector

Pineapple accounts for roughly 20% of the world's tropical fruit production and is the second most cultivated exotic fruit after banana. World pineapple production has doubled over the last 25 years to more than 25.4 million tons per year.  

Guinea produces several varieties of pineapple: the smooth Cayenne, Baronne de Rothschild and Queen. Among the local varieties, the Baronne de Rothschild is known for its thorny leaves, its excellent quality and short storage period, best for niche markets and export by air. The smooth Cayenne, on the other hand, is the primary variety cultivated in Guinea, and has a long shelf life, so it can be transported by sea.  

About WACOMP Sierra Leone.

ITC’s four-year West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP) in Sierra Leone is supporting the country’s competitive trade in cassava, palm oil and cocoa nationally, regionally and internationally. We are doing this by strengthening the competitiveness of small and medium businesses in these sectors and making sure they get the support they need from national institutions. 

Agriculture has a key role in Sierra Leone’s economic development. As cocoa, cassava and palm oil are already strong exports, we believe that with a more modernized model and greater access to markets, the industry could grow, creating jobs and employing more women and youth. 

The Sierra Leonean government has strengthened the country’s institutional, legal and regulatory framework to better promote its export and market diversification efforts. ITC is working with the government as well as farmers and producer organizations to further ensure high quality produce, open market opportunities and provide small businesses with access to financial services. 

Fostering economic development through trade

The International Trade Centre (ITC) is engaging India’s powerhouse economy, its know-how, technology and investment strength to invigorate exports from Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.   

Through the Supporting Indian Trade and Investment for Africa (SITA) project, ITC is working with small businesses in East Africa in the technology, textile and apparel sectors, pulses, spices, and sunflower oil, and partnering them with institutions and businesses from India.  

For example, In Rwanda and Kenya we are helping farmers to grow rosemary commercially alongside their main crops. By diversifying into produce with increasing demand, farmers get a steady secondary income, which leads to greater economic resilience, and more jobs for predominantly female workers.  

We also mentored 300 East African women in business and technical expertise and provided 72 women entrepreneurs with e-commerce platforms to market their brands globally.  

Our goal is to increase job opportunities and incomes and foster economic development through trade. Through SITA, ITC has facilitated $69 million worth of additional exports from these five East African countries to India and elsewhere, and $111 million of investments from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in India to East Africa. 

KPR Mill Ltd, an integrated textile manufacturing company from India, opened its first overseas garment unit, in Ethiopia’s Mekelle Industrial Park in 2019, in an investment facilitated by SITA

Forging the technical and professional skills of young Guineans

ITC’s Support Programme for the Socio-Economic Integration of Youth (INTEGRA) aims to prevent and limit irregular migration by providing young Guineans and returning migrants with essential job skills.  

We do this through a range of trainings in youth entrepreneurship, agribusiness, food quality and safety, market profiling, and tech skills. Our approach is learning-by-doing and includes practical sessions for trainees. 

We also provide financial management consultants to work with our young entrepreneurs, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and cooperatives to help improve their credit profile, provide advice on business plans, and identify sources of financing .   

Our financial advisors have supported more than 900 aspiring entrepreneurs and 40 MSMEs and cooperatives. 

We also work with Guinea’s industries to help them better serve the country’s private sector.