For African exporters, getting their product to the global stage is rather challenging on multiple aspects. According to Miguel Sousa Dias, CEO and co-founder of Fluna, there now is a solution to tackle some of these challenges: "Fluna is a Pan-African company that entered the agribusiness sector three years ago with a vision to rebuild Africa's economic treasury through international trade. We quickly identified a critical gap: African exporters needed the right tools and knowledge to professionalize and de-risk their offerings in global markets. To address this, we've established the Fluna Academy-, a platform dedicated to bridging the knowledge gap and equipping African exporters with essential tools to meet international trade standards."
The fact that this content is available for free means there is no barrier to entry for smaller exporters in African countries, Sousa Dias explains. "Exporters often face challenges, such as navigating complex logistics, ensuring product quality, meeting certification requirements, and resolving trade disputes. The Fluna Academy tackles these hurdles with curated, practical educational content tailored to the unique needs of African suppliers. We pride ourselves on the accessibility of the Fluna Academy. All of its resources are available online and completely free, removing any potential financial barriers to critical knowledge. This approach ensures that suppliers of all scales, from smallholders to large export firms, can access insights that enable them to thrive in global markets."
Sousa Dias emphasizes that Fluna has a clear goal in mind with this platform: "The Academy's mission is clear: to transform African exporters into professional and competitive players on the global stage. By fostering expertise in areas such as supply chain optimization, compliance, and export readiness, it empowers suppliers to improve product quality, streamline operations, and enhance profitability. The Academy has covered essential export topics like cold chain logistics, avocado export challenges, claims management, and export certifications, among many other topics. This has attracted an audience of over 200 exporters eager to gain practical insights."
"We have collaborated with partners like Global GAP, Recoupex, AEAK, Freezelink, React, and Gateway Marine Services to bring exporters practical insights and expert-driven solutions to navigate the complexities of international trade. Our holistic approach to empowering exporters goes beyond education. Recognizing the importance of market access, we aim to connect suppliers with credible buyers and ensure buyers can access reliable suppliers. This strategy integrates the three pillars of the academy's value proposition: trade finance, education, and market access."
To further strengthen the position of African exporters, Fluna will launch an Export Hub in the Netherlands next year, Sousa Dias states. "Situated at Europe's logistics epicenter, the hub will offer African exporters access to cold storage, quality control, distribution, and commercial support. True to our vision, this hub will serve as a crucial link in the global trade ecosystem, ensuring African suppliers compete effectively on the international stage while fostering sustainable growth in their communities."
For more information:
Miguel Sousa Dias
Fluna
Main office +1 4432038536
European Office +31 (0)640062180
Email: [email protected]
https://sourcing.fluna.co/