Encouraging cross-border cooperation in local food and handicraft sector in border areas (Q4295916)
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| Language | Label | Description | Also known as |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Encouraging cross-border cooperation in local food and handicraft sector in border areas |
No description defined |
Statements
255,717.49 Euro
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300,844.11 Euro
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85.0 percent
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1 March 2017
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31 October 2019
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The Union of Setomaa
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57°32'18.02"N, 26°41'42.43"E
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57°48'46.08"N, 27°26'40.88"E
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57°25'26.58"N, 25°54'28.15"E
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57°51'12.49"N, 27°0'13.90"E
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58°5'46.50"N, 27°27'2.95"E
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Project background: The popularity of local farm products and organic/ecological food has increased enormously in last decade. Farm products´ freshness, naturalness and good taste are highly valued by consumers both in Estonia, Latvia and in abroad. As the sector is quite popular, many young people/families preferring to live in countryside decide to start business in local food sector (farming and/or production). However, small farm producers are not known enough in their own region, neither in neighbouring regions across the border. Often their products are in humble packages and they lack knowledge and resources for promotion and finding direct sales channel outside their own home region. Young entrepreneurs usually see at first their market area in their home region (municipality or county), but the market potential of regions located in the other side of the border should be also recognized. Younger people have better language skills and they have more courage to look also for markets outside from their own region. Therefore this target group has high potential for starting cross-border cooperation. Local food producers lack of information about farmers who can supply agricultural products needed for them. If the farm products are sold to big factories and supermarket chains, then the profit earned by farmers/small-producers is minimal. Therefore, it is important to support and encourage entrepreneurs in finding other sales channels more close to end costumer also in neighbouring regions across the border. Since there is lack of co-operation between farmers/producers in border areas, low know-how on how to produce farm products for higher added value and to establish short supply- chain, it is needed to organize joint activities and events. In these events, it is possible to find new contacts and business partners and to improve together knowledge and skills in the field of marketing, promotion and customer relations. In project area, the handicraft sector is well developed and there are many skilful handicraft masters who could sell their product in wider area outside their region or even in other countries. New masters are entering to the sector with better language and computer skills, so they have higher potential to use contemporary technology in sales and marketing (online-shops, websites etc). The handicraft producers from both countries should learn together the opportunities how to sell their products in wider market area using efficient marketing and ICT-tools. Also the handicraft masters should be encouraged to start their own business as many of them consider it more as a hobby. Handicraft masters are very interested in joint participation in fairs and other marketing events together with their colleagues from other country. Cross-border nature: Co-operation of new businesses and young entrepreneurs in project area will be supported in two main fields: 1) finding the clients in new markets across the border, which enables them to grow and expand; 2) co-operation in product development and marketing for higher profitability and added value. The cross-border co-operation opens access to new markets for young small producers and farmers. It is easier to look at first for new market near to your own region (Estonia and Latvia), then it is possible to move forward to other markets. Joint activities in promotion and marketing save costs and increases income. Shared knowledge and joint effort is essential in order to be successful in foreign markets. Business opportunities in neighbouring countries enables to increase the volumes, sales and profit of new SME’s and businesses looking for new field of activity. Businesses from participating regions should take advantage of locating near Est-Lat border, which enables them to find new clients and partners not far from their own region. Project objectives: The project objective is enlivened cross-border business activity and close business relations especially among new businesses from remote border areas working in the field of non-traditional farming, food-production and handicraft. Project encourages cross-border trade and co-operation between new SMEs from Est-Lat border areas (Setomaa region, Räpina, Vastseliina, Ape and Smiltene municipalities) in above-mentioned sectors, as the domestic market in project area is too small and finding new markets and partners is good possibility for increasing the SME´s turnover, profitability and competitiveness. Main activities: Partners have decided to use sectoral approach in implementation of project activities. Cross-border networks in 4 sectors will be established: 1)Berry and fruit farmers and producers; 2) Meat and milk farmers and producers; 3) Vegetables, herbs and plant farmers and producers; 4) Handicraft masters. In the beginning of the project joint contact event will be organized, and later on for each sectoral group series of events will be organized targeted to creation of cross-border partnersh (English)
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