Support for international business
The Orange Trade Mission Fund is an initiative of evofenedex, EY, ING, MKB-Nederland, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency. These partners help ten SMEs for the seventh consecutive year to expand their foreign network by sharing their experience and knowledge in international business.
Prize package for winners
The fund has already supported more than 70 entrepreneurs with a personal program to establish a foothold in a chosen export country. This year, the winners will also receive a prize package, including one-on-one assistance from embassies and (digital) meetings with ambassadors, participation in a physical or digital trade mission, and a business partner scan. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the support can be adjusted or postponed if necessary.
EY new partner of the OHMF
Recently, EY, specializing in assurance, tax, transaction, and consulting services, has been welcomed as the newest partner of the fund. The experienced advisors from EY will assist the winners with their internationalization. Linda Herms, partner at EY, says: "We are very pleased to join as a partner of the Orange Trade Mission Fund. The fund has been helping entrepreneurs for years in their journey to a desired export country. EY can guide and support them with our extensive knowledge and experience of companies at this stage of their growth and also has a large international network that these entrepreneurs can benefit from. In this way, we contribute to the opportunities of Dutch companies abroad."
The ten winners at a glance
Below is an explanation of the winners of 2020:
- A Beautiful Story (Amsterdam): the women behind this company produce handmade and fairtrade jewelry from Nepal. This social enterprise aims to establish a foothold in the USA.
- Biochem Products (Enter): this company develops and produces sustainable animal feeds with natural ingredients that improve animal health and productivity in a sustainable way. The innovative company aims to expand to Brazil.
- Embedded Fitness (Helmond): develops and sells interactive movement concepts (exergaming and serious gaming) to encourage people to move more in a fun way. The innovative company focuses on care and rehabilitation and wants to enter the German market.
- Fairtrade Original (Culemborg): the first fairtrade organization in the world, selling more than 120 products. Fairtrade Original develops fair trade chains with farmers and producers around the world. This social enterprise aims to further internationalize and focuses on Sweden.
- Fruitfunk ('s-Hertogenbosch): develops snacks and candies made from more than 98 percent fruit. This creates responsible snack options for children. Fruitfunk aims to establish a foothold in France.
- Holie Foods (Amsterdam): this sustainable food brand focuses on climate-positive entrepreneurship. All products are vegan, locally produced, and 50 percent of the proceeds are used for planting trees. Holie Foods is targeting Germany.
- Massarius (Amsterdam): a publisher trading desk for independent publishers. The company facilitates the auctioning of online (video) advertisements. Massarius aims to enter the market in the United Kingdom.
- Polyfluor Plastics (Breda): sells and provides advice on sustainable, corrosion-resistant, and high-quality fluoropolymer products to the industry. Polyfluor is ready to grow in Germany.
- Theha (Harderwijk): produces coconut products and is the only producer of coconut bread in the Netherlands. This family business aims to expand to Germany.
- Van Wijk (Werkendam): a ship repair company for inland vessels and producer of ship parts. China is the intended export country for this family business.
