Swiss Import Promotion Programme

The Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO) is a well-established mandate of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) within the framework of its economic development cooperation. The programme has been implemented by Swisscontact since 2017 and is now in phase 2 (2021-2025).

The overall objective of SIPPO is to integrate developing and transition countries into world trade. 
In a facilitation role, SIPPO advises and supports so-called Business Support Organisations (BSOs) in 11 partner countries. Through innovative and targeted export promotion services, BSOs strengthen the export capabilities of companies intending to export and facilitate market access and exports to Switzerland, the EU, and regional markets.
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rabat, maroc
34.17634334577161
-6.586141024999998
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hanoi, vietnam
21.0277644
105.8341598
invalid
capetown, south africa
-33.9248685
18.4240553
invalid
belgrad, serbia
44.786568
20.4489216
invalid
swisscontact peru
-12.107061
-77.03224689999999
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skopje, macedonia
41.9981294
21.4254355
invalid
swisscontact indonesia
-6.190971999999999
106.759524
invalid
swisscontact colombia
4.681361
-74.0613961
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swisscontact, albania
41.3310337
19.8078796
invalid
sarajevo, bosnia herzegovina
43.8562586
18.4130763
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tunis, tunisia
36.8064948
10.1815316
Project duration
2021 - 2025
Financed by
  • State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO

The project

The Swiss Import Promotion Programme SIPPO works with a systemic approach. Instead of focusing on individual companies, it puts BSOs in the centre of the programme. These BSOs provide professional ‘last mile services’ to companies  intending to export.

SIPPO enhances the performance of the selected BSOs. They promote local export-ready companies with a qualitative set of services. With this, BSOs can specifically improve export promotion services in specific economic sectors and boost the export performance of export-ready companies in their countries by providing them with high-quality market information, B2B matchmaking services and enhanced networking opportunities. With SIPPO's support, BSOs ultimately contribute to increased income and more and better jobs.

This BSO-focused approach of SIPPO is decentralised, utilizing local know-how and developing a high commitment of local actors. The approach has proven successful in Phase 1 and will be further expanded in Phase 2. New focus areas are digitalisation and sustainability, organisational development at the BSOs and the strengthening of export promotion systems in the partner countries.

In addition, SIPPO creates synergies by working locally with other Swiss development cooperation programmes.

Activities in 6 sectors

SIPPO is active in six sectors:

  • Fish & Seafood
  • Processed food
  • Natural ingredients
  • Technical wood
  • High quality textiles
  • Sustainable tourism

Expected results/outcomes

  • Export-ready companies in the target countries access export promotion  services of BSOs.
  • Export-ready companies sign new export contracts .
  • Increase in the number of jobs in sectors supported by SIPPO.
  • BSOs professionalise their export promotion services, develop their organisational management, and improve their performance measurement.


Project Partners

·     BHP Brugger & Partner

·     HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation

 

Collaboration with BSOs

SIPPO supports the BSOs through tailor-made capacity development in two areas:

  1. Improving BSO activities for entering new markets, through capacity  development in market research, trade fair participation, selling missions, buyer missions and study tours.
  2. Supporting BSOs in organisational development, strategic planning and positioning, project cycle management, knowledge sharing and continuous learning.

The BSOs decide to what extent they use SIPPO services. This is entirely their responsibility. BSOs that want to explore new potential opportunities for their export-ready companies and improve access to new markets can use these "last mile services" according to their needs.

Downloads

News

Tunisia
Trade
28.10.2022
Let’s explore the opportunities for Sustainability in the Processed Food sector at SIAL 2022!
SIPPO accompanied CEPEX and GICA, its key partner BSOs in processed food export promotion in Tunisia, to SIAL in Paris this October. The main aim was to explore the sustainability aspect and the requirements of buyers and key stakeholders.
Bosnia & Herzegovina, Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia, Vietnam
Trade
27.10.2022
SIPPO supports companies at SIAL fair in Paris
Five SIPPO country teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia and Vietnam accompanied Business Support Organisations (BSOs) to SIAL in Paris, the world's leading food trade fair.
Indonesia
Trade
05.10.2022
SIPPO is supporting The Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs of the Republic Indonesia - Public kick-off for B2B matchmaking preparation
SIPPO is entering into a partnership with the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs to increase staff skills of BSOs in organising professional export promotion programmes and providing better services to SMEs in Indonesia.