The first social network for the base of the pyramid

What's your natural resource?

(Below is a post from the BOP Source blog)

Chocolate in the Amazon
by Jenara Nerenberg

As a chocolate lover, I couldn't help falling in love with this story in the International Herald Tribune. It chronicles the quest of Quechua villagers in Ecuador to make quality chocolate, create a sustainable and enduring business around their product, and sell the chocolate bars in international markets. My question, though, is, How do we replicate such successes? Living in Nepal, I often wonder what natural resource would be so coveted by international audiences to the point where rural communities here could form and sustain profitable businesses around the local product. The irony is that there is SO much here! From water to paper to tea to rare fruits, Nepal is abundant. It seems that identifying the right product is key. So how do you do that? How do you gauge the international market?

Tell us what you think. Do you have an experience of your own to share?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Anand Sheombar on December 14, 2008 at 4:29am: Hi,

I posted this on your Blog as well.
You might find some soulmates at http://www.bidnetwork.org/search?q_mm=nepal

Btw, I am fond of chocolate too, yuo should see this site for fairtrade chocolate http://www.chocolonely.nl/index.php?page=_&Language=en
Their foundation might interest you.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nicolò Borghi on January 18, 2009 at 7:23am: Interesting topic, Jenara.
Are you asking how can local business get international customers with their product?
Moreover, isn't even better if the local product is sold locally with a positive impact both on local companies and local customers?
I am really interested in this, so let's keep the discussion alive.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jenara Nerenberg on January 18, 2009 at 7:44am: Hi Nicolo,
Great Questions. Of course it is important for local companies to produce useful and productive products for local customers, but I think the impact on national economic development might be greater if those products can also be sold in the international marketplace, because of the potential for higher profit margins and to attract international investors. What do you think?

Jenara; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ellie Skeele on April 15, 2009 at 10:32am: Hi Jenara. I've been working for a year+ on a project to bring wild-growing Himalayan giant stinging nettle fiber to markets in industrialized nations. All I need now is a bit of working capital and to improve my NGO partnerships for production scaling. My company, Himalayan Wild Fibers (HWF), is establishing a non-commodity, high-end market for the fiber in the textiles industry, with an emphasis on branding to pull through demand. A market-driven strategy!!!!!!!!!!!
There is a local market for the fiber but the producers/farmers/collectors/entrepreneurs make a fraction of what they can make by selling internationally. I hope the domestic market will mature as I forge ahead on the international scene.
The potential for this product, and other wild fibers, is tremendous. HWF is a 'not just for profit' and will contribute a large amount of earnings to a non-profit 'kitty' to be used for larger investments for improved production. So, the villagers who do the hard work will be paid a better price for their product and will also benefit from infrastructure development.
Anyone know where I can get a working cap loan?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jenara Nerenberg on April 16, 2009 at 3:11pm: Hi Ellie,
Nice to see you here and thanks for joining BOP Source. I believe we met a few months ago at Phora through Diana.

What kind of partnerships are you seeking with NGOs and for what purpose? Also, which designers/brands are looking for the product? Is the fiber primarily used for clothing? I'm really interested in hearing more. Have you checked out Echoing Green for funding?

Best,
Jenara; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ellie Skeele on April 16, 2009 at 4:17pm: Yes, we met at Phora. How do I get in touch with you? I'm ellie "you know what to put in the middle" himalayanwildfibers.com. Let's have a coffee or some lunch. How great to have a soul mate of sorts in KTM.

Cheers,
Ellie; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Anand Sheombar on April 20, 2009 at 6:29pm: Hi Jenara,

although this example isn't big, it might be intersting you.
It's about nepalese tailers making brand-clothing for a western market.

There is an artciel here (in Dutch, but google translate will help you): http://www.oneworld.nl/Vacaturebank/Betaald_Werk/article/15861/Een_...

There Dutch distribution channel is http://www.studiojux.com/

regards,
Anand; ▶ Reply to This