SME Aisle supports business activities between Central Baltic SMEs and Southern African stakeholders.
And project is also much more, check the short video below!
SME Aisle success stories
Joint ventures of StandByMate/Nordcrewing Group OÜ in Southern Africa
In Namibia a joint venture was set up and the company is currently moving towards recruiting German-speaking workers from Namibia, due to a demand from a major German customer.
The company Nordcrewing was established on November 2018. The idea of starting a recruitment company began with the startup company called StandByMate. StandbyMate was an online recruitment platform, moreover an online version of the current recruitment company Nordcrewing.
Read the success story here.
Environmentally friendly innovative solutions for agriculture
“The SME Aisle project has helped us in identifying suitable partners and has met our expectations”, states the Managing Director of BioSorbio Ltd. Jukka Lunden.
BioSorbio Ltd. is a Finnish company specialized in eco-friendly solutions in agriculture, soil and water remediation. The company joined the SME Aisle project in 2019.
BioSorbio’s products have raised interest for example in Zambia, where the company recently established a joint venture named BioRaiser Zambia Ltd.
Read the success story here.
Digital inclusion in Africa
– SME Aisle success story of Aion Sigma
“Thanks to the SME Aisle project, we have been able to enter the market in Southern Africa” says one of the company founders Joakim Hedenstedt.
Aion Sigma joined the SME Aisle project in 2019 and has been active in project events within the ICT field.
So far, Aion Sigma has partnered with Musanga Logistics to provide smartphones with their employees in Zambia.
Read the success story here.
Upcoming events
Due to the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the SME Aisle team has postponed the delegations. Information on coming delegations will be published on the website later on. Stay safe!
Currently on SME Aisle
News
Sustainable business in the markets of southern Africa
Read the article about sustainable business in the markets of Southern Africa in English (abstract) and in Finnish (full article).
Blog posts
Namibian flavours and business networking
Cosy atmosphere, a sumptuous dinner and great business networking. Read more about the Namibian business delegation trip to Central Baltic on 10th of November in Stockholm. Read the blog post.
Publications
Technical and operational insights for businesses entering Namibian markets
This report describes some specific technical and operational requirements necessary to take into consideration when planning a business venture in the Southern African markets. In this report, Namibia is used as an example.
Take a look of our publication (open access): http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2020090468570
More news
The Vice President of the Republic of Namibia Dr. Nangolo Mbumba visited Finland, Estonia and Latvia in September 9–15, 2019. He was accompanied by a delegation of 30 representatives of various ministries and enterprises. SME Aisle project team members had a chance to meet the Namibian delegation. Read the article.
Read the news about the business trip in Southern Africa in April 2019 in English and in Finnish.
More blog posts
More publications
Rapid Urbanization and Infrastructure Pressure: Comparing the Sustainability Transition Potential of Water and Energy Regimes in Namibia.
The article presents a comparative study of the urban water and energy sectors in the coastal city of Walvis Bay in Namibia. Writers include experts from SME Aisle.
Read the paper (open access) from Wolrd 2020: https://doi.org/10.3390/world1020006
Feasibility study on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) and on the resources required in the Southern African markets. Check our publication: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2019120946316 (open access).
Want to know more about Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) markets? Check our publication (open access) about business environment in Namibia, South Africa, Angola, Mozambique, Botswana and Zambia. Themes are maritime and ports, ICT, automation, renewable energy and machinery.
Project info
Duration:
01.03.2018-31.08.2021
Total budget:
1 731 850,31 €
(ERDF: 1 358 178,06 €)
SAMK: 578 802,33 € (ERDF: 422 525,70 €)
Our objective in SME Aisle project is to support Central Baltic maritime clusters’ SMEs with an ambition and potential to enter into new markets in Southern Africa using Namibia as stable entry point.
SME Aisle focus on companies from Central Baltic area i.e. Finland (incl. Åland), Estonia, Latvia and Sweden.
Themes are shipbuilding, maritime, renewable energy, automation and ICT.
Videos and presentations
What is SME Aisle?
See the presentation about the project SME Aisle and its partners. Check the slideshow (click to open the presentation as PDF) or click the link below.
Previous
Next
Click to play videos or open presentations (pdf). More videos in SME Aisle YouTube channel.
Partners
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences
Prizztech
The Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Association of Mechanical Engineering and Metalworking Industries of Latvia
Estonian Maritime Academy of Tallinn University of Technology
SME Aisle on social media
Finland’s first Africa strategy ever is now ready! SME Aisle participated actively in the strategy work through the whole process. In the publication event, some of the main points were:![]()
👥 African actors are seen as equal partners. ![]()
📈Trade between Finland and African countries will double from 2020 by 2030. Also, the aim is to significantly increase investments in Africa and African companies in Finland over the same period.![]()
💬The past and present cooperation interests of Finnish actors towards the SADC region were also acknowledged. There is a great potential in utilization of these established relations in the future.![]()
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Read more about the new strategy: um.fi/about-finland-s-africa-strategy (strategy in Finnish and in Swedish).![]()
#afrikkastrategia #CBresults
SME Aisle project supports SME's export actions (products & know-how) to the Southern African markets. Published article on energy efficiency, digitalization and export for maritime cluster (in Finnish).![]()
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🇫🇮 SME Aisle -projektissa tuetaan pk-yrityksten vientiä (tuotteet & osaaminen) eteläisen Afrikan markkinoille. Meriklusterin yritykset vievät mm. simulaatioita. Lue lisää artikkelista.![]()
#CBresults
Energiatehokkuutta, digitalisaatiota ja vientiä meriklusterille - UAS Journal
uasjournal.fi
Suomi on tavaroiden ja ihmisen liikkumisen näkökulmasta saari. Tavaraliikenteestämme peräti 90 % kulkee meriteitse.
Suomalaisyritys: Osallistu Finnish Week of Business in Zambia -tapahtuman 26.-28.4.2021 virtuaalisesti! 🇫🇮 🇿🇲![]()
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Tavoitteena on edellisvuosien tapaan tuoda yhteen suomalaisia ja sambialaisia yrityksiä sekä esitellä Sambian liiketoimintaympäristöä ja -mahdollisuuksia. Koulutus- ja kaivossektoreille samoin kuin uusiutuvalle energialle ja kiertotaloudelle, maa- ja metsätaloudelle sekä ICT:lle ja digitalisaatiolle on ohjelmassa omat kohdistetut sessionsa. Lue lisää finnpartnership.fi/en/events/embassy-of-finland-in-lusaka-finnish-week-of-business-in-zambia-apri....![]()
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Osallistuminen maksuttomaan tapahtumaan edellyttää rekisteröitymistä 24.3.2021 mennessä: tinyurl.com/2jh45skt. ![]()
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Tapahtuman järjestävät Suomen suurlähetystö Lusaka - Embassy of Finland Lusaka, AGS Programme Zambia ja Southern Africa Innovation Support Programme (SAIS).
finnpartnership.fi
Companies from all sectors are warmly welcome to join the online event on 26-28 April 2021. This year specific focus will be given to the following sectors: Education, Sustainable Mining, Renewable En...
EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen made a virtual visit to Satakunta, Finland. Collaboration between Satakunta region and Namibia have included e.g. Mirabilis research vessel. ![]()
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The cooperation continues, and currently the SME Aisle project supports business between Central Baltic and Southern African markets. The cooperation is now even more versatile - several countries, stakeholders, companies and people are involved in the SME Aisle from different fields! 🌍![]()
#CBresults![]()
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The article here (in Finnish, only for subscribers): ls24.fi/uutiset/eu-komissaari-jutta-urpilainen-kannusti-satakuntaa-afrikka-yhteistyohon-raumalla-...
ls24.fi
Urpilainen teki virtuaalisen maakuntavierailun Satakuntaan Brysselistä käsin ja kertoi muun muassa työnkuvansa muuttuneen melkoisesti globaalin koronapandemian myötä.
Behind the scenes we are creating something new! Our project manager, Minna Keinänen-Toivola, presented to the SME Aisle steering group the early version of our ePlatform. We are developing an online platform for supporting business between Central Baltic and Southern African markets. Here's a sneak peek and more information will follow during this year!![]()
#CBresults
Tervetuloa seuraamaan Suomen #AfrikkaStrategia'n julkistustilaisuutta! https://www.pscp.tv/w/cysBtDFsWkVwZHJETm9Fbm18MWpNSmdwcVZPQll4TOka3vzLhlDDyZPVJdk1EwDhp_p4Y-wSllpXE9mOmRIf
Co-operation possibilities for business and co-operation in #Zambia within @SMEAisle, @DIGILOGIC_EU and many others. @CentralBaltic @SatakunnanAMK #mysamk https://twitter.com/DIGILOGIC_EU/status/1373987241014530055
SAMK tekee laaja-alaista tutkimus- ja kehittämistyötä meriklusterin yritysten kanssa sekä vihreän että sinisen kasvun parissa satama- ja laivanrakennusverkostossa.
@UASjournal @SataMariSAMK @SMEAisle
https://uasjournal.fi/1-2021/energiatehokkuutta-digitalisaatiota-ja-vientia-meriklusterille/
Tähtäimessä #Sambia? Osallistu virtuaaliseen tapahtumaaan. @SMEAisle tiimin osallistuu. #cbresults https://twitter.com/SMEAisle/status/1369548590675341312
Past events
Namibian delegation travels to Central Baltic area 9.-17.11.2019.
The program includes B2B meetings, site visits and events with the Embassies.
Open program in pdf https://sub.samk.fi/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/travelling-plan-SMEAisle20191011.pdf
Follow the delegation in SME Aisle social media!
Tervetuloa tapaamaan ja keskustelemaan namibialaisdelegaation kanssa businesstilaisuuteen SAMKin Merimäen auditorioon (Suojantie 2, Rauma) pe 15.11.2019 klo 13.00–14.45.
Tilaisuuden ohjelma:
13.00-13.05 Welcome and introduction, project leader Minna Keinänen-Toivola, SAMK
13.05-13.15 SME Aisle: Promoting trade between the Finland and Namibia, captain Heikki Koivisto, SAMK
13.15-13.30 Words from Namibian delegation members
13.30-13.45 Investment plans in Logistic Hub of Namibia – Future business opportunities and projects (Maritime, ICT, Transport – road and rail ,Energy and Water, Mining) Mr. Clive Smith Walvis Bay Corridor Group
13.45-14.00 Short introduction of Finnish companies
14.00-14.45 Speed networking and negotiations between businesses
Tilaisuuden järjestävät Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu ja Prizztech osana CB SME Aisle projektia.
Tilaisuus on ilmainen ja englanninkielinen.
CONNECTING SOUTHERN AFRICA WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD seminar
Time: Monday 11 November, at 9.00-12.00 followed by a networking luncheon
Venue: World Trade Center, Klarabergsviadukten 70 Stockholm
Hosts: Business Sweden and Central Baltic SME Aisle in collaboration with the Swedish-Southern African Chamber of Commerce (SSACC)
3rd SMEAisle Business delegation to Namibia 22.9 – 5.10.2019!
The program includes business meetings, speed networking event and site visits.
Open program in pdf https://sub.samk.fi/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/SMEAisle_delegation-program-autumn-2019.pdf
Follow our business trip in SME Aisle social media!
Namibia-Sweden Business Forum in connection with the Namibia-Sweden bilateral working group in Bankhalle, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Stockholm in 25.6.2019 9.00-12.00. Organized by Business Sweden in co-operation with Central Baltic SME Aisle project and others.
Registration to: https://www.business-sweden.se/en/Trade/Seminars-and-events/EventsSeminars/namibia-sweden-business-forum/
Click to open the program.
Welcome!
Where? Namibia, South Africa & Zambia.
When? 1st to 13th of April 2019.
Who? SME Aisle team and 31 Central Baltic SMEs from Finland, Sweden, Latvia and Estonia.
Take a look of the business delegation and check photos from our social media accounts!
Welcome to the SME Aisle workshop!
Time: Thursday 13th of June from 13.30-15.30 at SAMK Campus Pori, Finland (also online). The workshop is organized simultaneously with the Match Industry 2019 event.
The workshop concentrates on the delegation trip in April 2019 to Namibia, South Africa and Zambia. We present some interesting and successful business cases of SMEs from Finland, Sweden, Latvia and Estonia in Southern African markets so far. We also discuss about lessons learned and the upcoming events of the project.
Where? Namibia, South Africa & Zambia.
When? 1st to 13th of April 2019.
Who? SME Aisle team and 32 Central Baltic SMEs from Finland, Sweden, Latvia and Estonia.
Take a look from program and events our SME Aisle team organized! Detailed program for registered companies was provided separately.
What?
The webinar is targeted to the companies who are interested in business opportunities in the Southern African markets as well as to the companies who already have registered to the business delegation of April 2019 to Namibia, South Africa and Zambia. In the webinar, we share updated information on the business delegation and on opportunities for the Central Baltic SMEs in the market.
When?
On 15th of February 2019 at 10-12 (at 9-11 Swedish time)
Where? Online HILL room
Workshop on 23.1. in Stockholm, Sweden
What?
Workshop about Business opportunities in Southern African markets for Swedish SMEs
When?
Wednesday 23rd January
Where?
Business Sweden, World Trade Center, Klarabergsviadukten 70, Stockholm (metro station T-Centralen)
Workshop on 29.11. in Riga, Latvia
What? Workshop about Business opportunities in Southern African markets
When? Thursday 29th November
Where? Kipsala International Exhibition Centre, Ķīpsalas street 8, Riga, Latvia. Workshop is in room number 105 (near entrance between both halls).
Programme & registration: Check the programme (click to enlarge) and register by 26.11 to dainis.racenis@masoc.lv. Welcome!
Read more about the international trade fair from Tech Industry website.
Sambian energiasektorin liiketoimintamahdollisuudet –työpaja ti 27.11. klo 10.30-12.30 Helsingissä.
Tule kuulemaan tiistaina 27.11. klo 10.30-12.30 Sambian liiketoimintamahdollisuuksista Ulkoministeriöön (Kanavakatu 3, Helsinki).
Ilmoittautumiset ilmaiseen työpajaan ja lisätietoja: nina.savela@samk.fi ke 21.11.2018 mennessä.
Työpajassa yhteistyössä Suomen Sambian Lähetystö, NIRAS ja SME Aisle -projekti. Työpajan jälkeen on tarvittaessa mahdollisuus lyhyisiin yrityskohtaisiin tapaamisiin.
Doing business through SME Aisle: Business trip to Namibia in September-October 2018
The first SME Aisle business trip to Namibia is organized in 16.9-5.10.2018.
SME Aisle project’s areas for business are shipbuilding, maritime and logistics, renewable energy, automation and ICT through infrastructure, shipbuilding, retrofitting, training or expert services. The business trip will consist of business to business events, site visits, seminars and a fair. Check the programme (click to enlarge).
Business seminar “Doing business through SME Aisle” was held on 25 September in Windhoek, Namibia. Seminar focuses on shipbuilding, maritime & logistics, renewable energy, ICT and automation. Check the programme (click to enlarge).
Workshop on business opportunities on markets of Southern African area was organized in Pori, Finland 13th of June (you can participate also online). All companies interested in Southern African markets are welcome! Workshop is side event of MatchINDUSTRY 2018 event. Check the workshop programme (click to enlarge).
Smart Urban Business
SME Aisle is part of the international multiscientific Smart Urban Business research work in Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, Finland.
Contact:
Minna Keinänen-Toivola, Ph.D.
+358 44 710 3063
minna.keinanen-toivola(at)samk.fi