EIGHT South African companies recently participated in a trade mission to Norway, initiated by the 41nnovation Norway office in South Africa, with the assistance of the South African Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CTFA). Innovation Norway facilitates and manages what is known as the 'Matchmaking Programme' and its mandate, since 1997, has been to promote business in the form of partnerships between Norwegian and South African companies with an emphasis on creating economic growth and jobs in South Africa.
The Norwegian Agency for Development Co-operation (Norad) funds this programme and in January 2008, together with Innovation Norway, included trade as part of the Matchmaking Programme. Through this programme, one-on-one meetings are set up with South African manufacturers and Norwegian buyers. Norad assists with travel support, market feasibility studies and training.
The aim of the recent cosmetic trade mission to Norway was to promote new South African brands into the Norwegian market — especially eco-friendly, natural, organic and paraben-free products, which consumers are persistently demanding.
The South African companies that were involved in the trade mission included Skin Nutrition, Creighton Products, Annique, I-Slices, Indigo Cosmetics, Rain, Dermaxime and Scentpac/African Extracts. Each company had to apply to the CTFA, for confirmation that its products complied with the necessary regulations and requirements and that each company had the capacity to export. Pam Dillon, executive director of the CTFA, represented the industry and the association's members on the trade mission. It is the CTFA's task to highlight the regulations affecting the South African cosmetics industry and to ensure that members comply with these standards, which are closely aligned with the EU Cosmetics Directive.
In Norway, at Innovation Norway's Head Office in Oslo, each company had the opportunity to give an overview of their products to all the Norwegian buyers and then have one-on-one meetings. Buyers included the likes of Pagro, Norway's largest wholesaler specialising in cosmetics and perfumery; Bonaventura and Cosmetic Trading, importers and distributors for pharmacies and supermarkets; and Lilleborg a well-known manufacturer and distributor of branded products in Norway. A cocktail function was held at the South African Embassy in Oslo where Ambassador Coovadia and his wife warmly welcomed the delegation.
The South African companies were extremely fortunate that Norad funded their accommodation and flights when it was identified that the South African Department of Trade and Industry would be unable to assist with funding.
'Superb! The quality and calibre of the buyers was exceptional. The mission was beyond my expectations and I could not have done better myself or at a trade show.' – Richard Purvis, Skin Nutrition
`I feel privileged to have been a part of this mission. The one-on-one meetings were very beneficial and I learnt a great deal from the opportunity, gaining a deeper understanding of doing business globally.' – Rob van Wieringen, Creighton Products
`I found the presentation given on the Norwegian Cosmetic market by Steinar Magnussen to be valuable. He gave us a very good, clear impression of the industry quite quickly. Through meeting the people that we did, it was easy to identify who deals with specific target markets and if this mission hadn't been set up through Innovation Norway, with the backing of Norad, I would not have had the opportunity to meet such powerful Norwegian buyers.' – Rob Tiffin, Scentpac
`This trade mission was far more structured and cost-effective than a pavilion or other trade missions I have been on and feel this is definitely the route we should take in the future.' – Estelle October, Annique
`There was phenomenal camaraderie between representatives from the eight South African companies, all of whom gave each other guidance and advice. I think it was a fantastic and very successful time for all concerned.' – Pam Dillon, Executive Director CTFA.
EIGHT South African companies recently participated in a trade mission to Norway, initiated by the 41nnovation Norway office in South Africa, with the assistance of the South African Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CTFA). Innovation Norway facilitates and manages what is known as the 'Matchmaking Programme' and its mandate, since 1997, has been to promote business in the form of partnerships between Norwegian and South African companies with an emphasis on creating economic growth and jobs in South Africa.
The Norwegian Agency for Development Co-operation (Norad) funds this programme and in January 2008, together with Innovation Norway, included trade as part of the Matchmaking Programme. Through this programme, one-on-one meetings are set up with South African manufacturers and Norwegian buyers. Norad assists with travel support, market feasibility studies and training.
The aim of the recent cosmetic trade mission to Norway was to promote new South African brands into the Norwegian market — especially eco-friendly, natural, organic and paraben-free products, which consumers are persistently demanding.
The South African companies that were involved in the trade mission included Skin Nutrition, Creighton Products, Annique, I-Slices, Indigo Cosmetics, Rain, Dermaxime and Scentpac/African Extracts. Each company had to apply to the CTFA, for confirmation that its products complied with the necessary regulations and requirements and that each company had the capacity to export. Pam Dillon, executive director of the CTFA, represented the industry and the association's members on the trade mission. It is the CTFA's task to highlight the regulations affecting the South African cosmetics industry and to ensure that members comply with these standards, which are closely aligned with the EU Cosmetics Directive.
In Norway, at Innovation Norway's Head Office in Oslo, each company had the opportunity to give an overview of their products to all the Norwegian buyers and then have one-on-one meetings. Buyers included the likes of Pagro, Norway's largest wholesaler specialising in cosmetics and perfumery; Bonaventura and Cosmetic Trading, importers and distributors for pharmacies and supermarkets; and Lilleborg a well-known manufacturer and distributor of branded products in Norway. A cocktail function was held at the South African Embassy in Oslo where Ambassador Coovadia and his wife warmly welcomed the delegation.
The South African companies were extremely fortunate that Norad funded their accommodation and flights when it was identified that the South African Department of Trade and Industry would be unable to assist with funding.
'Superb! The quality and calibre of the buyers was exceptional. The mission was beyond my expectations and I could not have done better myself or at a trade show.' – Richard Purvis, Skin Nutrition
`I feel privileged to have been a part of this mission. The one-on-one meetings were very beneficial and I learnt a great deal from the opportunity, gaining a deeper understanding of doing business globally.' – Rob van Wieringen, Creighton Products
`I found the presentation given on the Norwegian Cosmetic market by Steinar Magnussen to be valuable. He gave us a very good, clear impression of the industry quite quickly. Through meeting the people that we did, it was easy to identify who deals with specific target markets and if this mission hadn't been set up through Innovation Norway, with the backing of Norad, I would not have had the opportunity to meet such powerful Norwegian buyers.' – Rob Tiffin, Scentpac
`This trade mission was far more structured and cost-effective than a pavilion or other trade missions I have been on and feel this is definitely the route we should take in the future.' – Estelle October, Annique
`There was phenomenal camaraderie between representatives from the eight South African companies, all of whom gave each other guidance and advice. I think it was a fantastic and very successful time for all concerned.' – Pam Dillon, Executive Director CTFA.