Aruba Food & Beverage Association’s Post

📍  We are pleased to announce the signature of a collaboration agreement between ASCAME, which is represented by the President Ahmed M. El Wakil and the General Coordinator Mr. Anwar Zibaoui, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Cortés (Honduras), which is represented by the Director and General Honorary Consul of Japan Mr. Karim Qubain on behalf of president Eduardo Facusse and the board of directors. 🌐 As a result of the agreement, the CCI of Cortés will help ASCAME members to explore new business and investment opportunities in this Central America country. This new collaboration agreement aims to build trade bridges between the Mediterranean region and countries from other continents to boost the commercial actions, exports and investment of the institutions and companies that we represent. 🔸 In the framework of the agreement signature, Mr. Qubain expressed to be proud to be in front of a gigantic organization as it is ASCAME and offered the cooperation of the CCI since it is located in the city of San Pedro Sula, in Honduras. This is a modern and active city that generates more than 60% of the country’s gross domestic product, also in recent years the city has entered a new stage by becoming a city that promotes business, tourism, becoming the venue for large forums and international conferences of tourism, business, culture and medicine. #Mediterranean #MedaWeek23 #ASCAMEProjects #cooperation

Happy Independence Day to Colombia! In 2023, Canada and Colombia celebrate the 70th year of formal bilateral diplomatic relations.   TFO Canada has had a longstanding relationship working with Colombia since 2009. Under the Women in Trade for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth project (2019-2025), funded by the Government of Canada, through Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada, TFO Canada is proud to actively work with our partner PROCOLOMBIA to provide training to 117 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), (107 led by women) on the development of export plans, 60 SMEs (53 led by women) on environment and climate change, corporate and social responsibility, e-commerce, and digital marketing. In May and June 2023, TFO Canada organised a virtual Trade Mission for 15 Colombian SMEs engaged in the animation, games & digital creative content sector.   In 2022, Canadian imports from Colombia totalled $CAD 1.8 billion. Equivalent to 31.4% average annual growth from 2018-2022. The main imports from Colombia (excluding minerals) include coffee, banana, cut roses, flowers, and carnations.

DO YOU BELIEVE YOURSELF INFERIOR AS AN AFRICAN? I really feel bad for Africans and how low an estimate we put on ourselves. It is as if we have fully swallowed the centuries' old lie, hook, line and sinker, that we are intellectually and morally inferior. When Peter Ndegwa C.B.S took over Safaricom, he was coming from Diageo PLC as the MD, Continental Europe and Russia. Diageo is the parent company of East African Breweries. But even then, Kenyans were still so sceptical of his ability to fill the big shoes of Michael Joseph and Bob Collymore. You can be the best at your field, better than your "fairer skinned" counterparts with more "travel friendly" passports. You can tick every box and meet every goal. Yet because you're black and African, there will always be some lingering doubt over your abilities. Any problems of failures will be attributed to your skin colour. I was privileged to go to school with a number of people from all races- Arabs, Europeans, Kenyans of European Descent, mixed race children, Asians- you name it. And today Olive School also has a number of children of different races. I have seen no difference in our intellectual ability honestly. I feel bad that we look down on ourselves. It is one thing to have others think that of us, and it is another thing altogether to believe them. It is a testimony that the indoctrination by the colonial and slave masters that we are a brute race was successful. Do you think yourself inferior to anyone of another race? Do you attribute corruption in your country to your race, even if foreign companies are involved, and even when the proceeds are hidden in European tax havens with full complicity of the host countries? Do you think European and Chinese contractors always do a better job. than locals, even when they are almost always guaranteed to get paid for their work unlike how KERRA and others treat local companies? Even after African companies built the Times tower and other buildings? If so, I think you are successfully indoctrinated into an inferiority complex. #racism #Corporate

January 27, 2024 arrived. We did it! Thanks to the Ghana Expo 2024- Tanzania organisers - Mr. Jacob Gyamfi-Aidoo, Senior Advisor, Stakeholder Engagements & Capacity Building, National AfCFTA Coordination Office, Ghana. We managed to get the creative economy into the agenda. Topic: Connect, Trade, and Collaborate: Reconstructing the Narrative of Africa's Creative Economy. I got to speak about the key highlights of the UNESCO Fashion Report as well as Article 16 of the 2005 UNESCO Convention. On October 11, 2023, UNESCO held a training for Anglophone Africa on Preferential Treatment as articulated in the Convention. Some of the feedback received after training was that this article should also apply to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and not only South-North relations, as was the intention of the drafters of the basic texts of the 2005 UNESCO Convention. Besides this, my key takeaways from the panel were: - Before we get to AfCFTA arena, there is groundwork that needs to be done in terms business development for creative startups. -Commercial banks need to be educated on what creative product entail ( goods or services- tangible and intangible) so that they can develop strategic financial instruments for the sector. In fact by getting to know the sector better, a commercial bank could consider partnering with others to establish an incubator programme for creatives. - Multichoice (DSTV) has showcased the possibilities for digital intra-African trade through the distribution for mostly the entertainment content. -For tangible creative products for instance in the fashion and visual arts sector, it remains to be seen how the sector will benefit from inter-African trade in terms reduced tarrifs as per the rules of origin of the AfCFTA agreement. - From a cultural perspective, we still await our Regionial Economic Communties (RECs) to consider making commitments for the liberalisation recreational, cultural and sporting services, and removal of Trade in Services (TiS) restrictions within our own common markets, before artists and cultural professionals can begin criss-crossing the continent to sell their services . Anthony Coleman, PhD Ojoma Ochai George Gachara African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat National AfCFTA Coordination Office

🌍 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱, according to the Nation Brands Index 2023, out of 62 countries analysed. 🏆 What sets us apart? Our exceptional friendliness makes us the second friendliest nation globally, just behind New Zealand. This ranking, conducted by the Anholt-Ipsos Nation Brands consortium, is based on 60,000 interviews conducted between June and August this year across 20 countries. The study evaluates various dimensions, including trustworthiness, friendliness, creativity, and attractiveness, reflecting people's perceptions of a nation. 🔗 Know more here 👉https://lnkd.in/dYjF_GcR #Portugal #Nordics #Norway #AICEP #Business #Investments

“I really believe that it is a region that has extraordinary possibilities and expectations.” Ramón Palou, Vice-President of the International Commission of Foment del Treball, representing businessmen and industrialists in Catalonia since 1771. (𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝑖𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡) Morocco is emerging as a hub of opportunities for international businesses. 📈 With Morocco's new Investment Charter, businesses can confidently explore diverse sectors, assured by a stable legal and political environment. This is a game-changer for international investors and brands seeking an emerging market with strong potential. ⚽️ Looking ahead, the 2030 Football World Cup in Morocco is set to be a landmark event, showcasing the country's capabilities and opening doors for joint business ventures. It will be a unique chance for the world to witness Morocco's vibrant economy and growth prospects up close. At MADEC, we are excited to be part of this dynamic landscape, and we invite global partners to join us in exploring the opportunities that Morocco offers ahead of these very appealing prospects. For you, we are always ready to do the extra-mile. #MADEC #Investments #International_Investors #International_Brands #Partnership

🇪🇨 🌐 The partnership between the Viceministry of Exports and Investment Promotion (PROECUADOR) and the Latin American Chamber of Commerce, Singapore, has reached new heights with the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. Despite the virtual setting, the signing ceremony witnessed the participation of esteemed dignitaries, notably Mr. José Antonio Villena Sierra, Vice-minister of Promotion of Exports and Investment from Ecuador. In his insightful address, the Vice-minister underscored the myriad opportunities awaiting exploration between #Singapore and #Ecuador. He emphasized Ecuador's dedication to fostering stronger ties with academia and gaining valuable insights from Singapore's innovation journey. Furthermore, Mr. Villena Sierra highlighted Ecuador's robust food production capacity, presenting a valuable resource for Singapore. Angela Torres-Andresen Torres, the visionary Founder and Director of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce, expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration. She outlined the key focus areas for upcoming programs and knowledge-sharing initiatives. Ms. Torres-Andresen Torres elaborated on the auspicious timing of the MOU, coinciding with the expansion of LatAmCham's presence through the appointment of Mr. Fausto V. as Country Manager of Ecuador. This collaboration promises exciting prospects for cross-cultural exchange, innovation, and economic growth. Stay tuned for the incredible developments ahead! 🌍✨ #InternationalPartnership #EcuadorSingaporeTies