Дата публікації:28.05.2025
Дата публікації: [custom_display_post_created_date]

Business Tour of Ukrainian Organic Fruit and Berry Processing Companies to the Netherlands Opens New Export Opportunities 

From 20 to 23 May 2025, a business tour took place for Ukrainian organic fruit and berry processing companies and business support organisations to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The event marked an important step in strengthening the export potential of Ukrainian organic businesses, gaining insights into advanced sales technologies from leading Dutch companies, and establishing business ties with potential European partners. 

The tour was organised by the Ukrainian Berries Association, the State Institution “Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office”, the national project Diia.Business, the Organic Initiative Public Union, and ProFound – Advisers In Development, with the support of Switzerland within the framework of three programmes, including the Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine Programme (QFTP).  

The delegation included 10 small and medium-sized enterprises from 7 regions of Ukraine, as well as representatives of 3 business support organisations (BSOs): the Ukrainian Berries Association, the Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office, the Organic Initiative, and technical assistance programme experts from QFTP and SIPPO. 

A full list of participating companies is available via the link. 

Over the four-day tour, participants met with around 10 potential trade partners and established contacts with three international organisations that demonstrated large-scale and systematic approaches to development in the sector: 

  • BIONEXT (Netherlands) – an organisation that unites producers’ associations, traders, retailers, and research institutes. It has over 1,100 members and 310 stores, representing more than 50% of all organic farmland in the Netherlands. BIONEXT is a true example of sectoral cooperation. 
  • CEPEX (Tunisia) – a state export agency with 50 years of experience. It operates 18 international offices across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Funded by both the government and the private sector, it serves as a model of successful public-private partnership. 
  • Export Partner (Netherlands) – a commercial association with 25 years of experience in organising trade missions, exhibitions, and developing export strategies for organisations around the world. 

The participants had the opportunity to explore effective models of cooperation and partnership in depth, including in the organic sector, which may serve as valuable examples for further developing exports of Ukrainian organic fruit and berry products. 

A key part of the mission was a visit to the World of Private Label International Trade Show (PLMA) in Amsterdam. This annual event brings together suppliers of food and non-food private label products from around the world. By attending the PLMA Trade Show, the Ukrainian delegation held over 15 meetings with processing enterprises, wholesalers, and traders from the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, France, and Denmark. 

The business tour participants are currently following up on the contacts established, refining their commercial offers, and arranging negotiations with companies that have expressed interest in cooperation.  

This business tour is yet another confirmation that organic sector of Ukraine not only offers high-quality products, but also boasts an ambitious, proactive team of processors, exporters, and partners committed to opening new markets and increasing organic exports. 

More information is available on the Ukrainian Berries Association website. 

The business tour is organised by the Ukrainian Berries Association, the State Institution “Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office” (EEPO, Ukraine), the national project Diia.Business, the Organic Initiative Public Union and ProFound – Advisers in Development with the support of Switzerland within the framework of three programmes: