80% supported companies starting with export

Starting with export is not that simple though. How do you get started and what market do you select? The Dutch government has an instrument to support export start-ups: the individual coaching of the SIB (Starters International Business) programm. In about 4 months companies are coached by export professionals to prepare their export plan in 3 stages: 1. What are you good at? 2. What are interesting markets? 3. What do you need to do to become successful? The results of this type of support are very promising. The results of this type of support are very promising. A recent study about the third quarter of 2017 shows that the average mark for this kind of governmental support is high: 7.5 (0-10 scale); 75% of the asked companies think they are better prepared for an international start, 60% of the companies are already busy taking next steps and 20% has planned to do so. Altogether very positive results.

A food entrepreneur who has successfully passed this SIB-programm is Let de Jong, owner of Let’s Salsa Let develops and produces fresh Mexican Californian hot sauces and salsa’s and designs her own packaging labels. In the Netherlands her products can be found in retail stores like Marqt, different restaurant chains and she’s been on television in popular cooking programs like ‘Koken met van Boven’ and ‘24Kitchen’. Let focuses on a specific target group that is a little harder to find in a new market. Together with TEN the export network she has passed through the SIB-programm. Let: ‘TEN heeft mij zeer goed en vakkundig geholpen. In vijf sessies hebben we een analyse van mijn bedrijfssituatie en de markt gemaakt en een praktisch exportplan geschreven. Hiervoor hanteert TEN haar eigen stappenplan dat je zelf na ieder gesprek overzichtelijk invult. Aan het eind heb je een volledig document waar je mee aan de slag kunt. Daarnaast heb ik veel praktisch advies gekregen over de algemene bedrijfsvoering en over specifieke exportzaken’.