Business Development
Increased orders for skilled Ugandan producers
From Rachel Ngondo, Regional Development Executive. When Malcolm, Shared Interest’s Customer Services Manager, came to Nairobi last week I was reminded of four years ago when he interviewed me for this job and I am amazed at how time has gone so fast! This is the week that the East African Community (EAC), comprising of Kenya, Uganda, [...]
The universal language of coffee
From Hugo Villela, Regional Development Executive; I’m writing to you from Chiapas, the southern department of Mexico, an area where the majority of the population comes from Mayan ethnic groups. Here the Catholic Church has undertaken a lot of work to develop the self sufficiency of the indigenous people, by organising them into Church based [...]
Shared Interest supports Bio-Exotica the fairtrade pineapple business
Shared Interest is to loan to Bio-Exotica, a Ghanaian pineapple producer, for the purchase of some much-needed equipment; which will enhance both their sustainability and their social impact.
The Secluded South East of Costa Rica
Our first producer visit in Costa Rica was to APPTA, a group of remotely based communities growing cocoa and bananas. We made the day-long journey to the Talamanca region of Costa Rica with our colleague Hugo, stopping in Limon to sample the Caribbean twist on the country’s favourite dish Gallo Pinto. With two hours to [...]
‘SEWING’ THE SEEDS OF FAIR TRADE IN TANZANIA FOR SHARED INTEREST
After 27 hours non-stop travel, two 6-hour stopovers and 3 different planes, I finally arrived to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. As always the interminable journey had been worth it to be back on African soil. And anyway, I had met up with Rachel Ngondo, our African Regional Development Executive, at Nairobi so I’d had [...]
Shared Interest Increases Lending in South Africa
Our East African Regional Development Executive, Rachel Ngondo has recently assisted another new African producer group with access to credit from Shared Interest. AMWA are a South African handicraft producer where fair trade, environmental responsibility and commercial viability, are integral parts of the manufacture and marketing of products. AMWA works with disadvantaged women in the [...]
Fast turnaround for Kenyan Producers
I first met Pauline Ntombura the Managing Director of Salom enterprises in August 2008. Salom Enterprises have experienced tremendous growth in their business in the last few years. This September they decided they would like to apply for a facility with Shared Interest. Salom works with 12 groups of producers located in Kisii district, Eastern [...]
Rollercoaster in Guatemala
The following is a Business Development Update by Hugo Villela, Regional Development Executive, Central America Hello colleagues… Here are some thoughts coming from my latest experience in Guatemala, a trip from 9th to 12th June, 2009. This trip was not to look for new customers… it was to look after our customer service, as one [...]
Shared Interest looks after the needs of Malawian fair trade producers
The following is a Business Development Update by Rachel Ngondo, Regional Development Executive, Africa Last time I promised to tell you how the trip I made to Malawi about two weeks ago… This was my first time to Malawi and I really looked forward to the visit. From Lusaka Zambia it is only an hour’s flight to [...]
Zambian honey producers: a long journey but worth it
The following is a Business Development Update by Rachel Ngondo, Regional Development Executive, Africa Well I am at Kamuzu airport (Lilongwe) on my final lap of my travels this week. I’m really fatigued, but glad I did it. It was my first time to Zambia and Malawi and it was an exciting for me to experience life [...]