About CBI

CBI is the centre for the promotion of sustainable production and trade between low- and middle- income countries and the Netherlands and Europe. We partner with small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and their ecosystems to strengthen their social and environmental sustainability.

Over the past 55 years, CBI has partnered with more than 10,000 SMEs in various sectors and across 70 countries to enter the Dutch and European market. CBI is part of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency. The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs funds CBI.

Mission

CBI contributes to the Dutch International Cooperation policy by promoting the transition to sustainable production and trade. 

In collaboration with exporting SMEs and actors within their business environment in partner countries, we strengthen economic, social and environmental sustainability.  

We contribute directly to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

Vision

CBI envisions inclusive and sustainable economies that create positive impact in low- and middle-income countries. We believe that resilient supply chains aligned with EU standards create shared value for the Netherlands and partner countries, benefiting SMEs, employees and communities.

Strategic Priorities 

CBI contributes to the Dutch sub-strategy on aid, trade and economic development. Strategic priorities are designed to enable an effective contribution to this agenda. Country/sector choices, project focus and scope are guided by Dutch priorities and the Multi-Annual Country Strategies of Dutch embassies.

We offer free, in-depth market studies on Dutch and European market trends and market access requirements. We convert this market knowledge into practical, actionable information for SMEs in low- and middle-income countries. In addition, we run multi-year projects that address social and environmental sustainability challenges on sectoral level, connecting SME exporters to Dutch and European buyers and building sustainable trade relationships.

CBI's approach

CBI builds on a systems approach in recognition of the growing complexity of our field. Project designs are based on tackling the underlying root causes of systemic underperformance and scaling successful interventions in collaboration with system actors. This involves many aspects, such as:

• Demarcation of the system
  Together with local stakeholders and partners, we demarcate system boundaries – which 
  can be national, sub-national, sectoral or sub-sectoral – at the start of every project.
• Market-based solutions
  We develop viable, long-term business cases with local market players and service  
  providers to continue beyond the duration of projects without distorting markets. 
• Adaptive management
  Because political, economic and other external factors keep changing, we continuously 
  analyse whether interventions have the intended effect, check for unintended side effects, 
  and adapt and adjust where and when required.
• Taking on a facilitative role
  To avoid becoming part of the systems we aim to support, and in accordance with the 
  principle of exit at entry, we take on a facilitative role. We support system stakeholders  
  in bringing about change. 
• Reaching scale
  To maximise our impact, we scale successful interventions. Because reaching scale takes 
  time, we engage with frontrunners and encourage second movers to adopt tested solutions. 
• Assessing systems change
  We monitor systemic change with diverse methods, focusing on the parts of the system  
  we aim to influence. This helps us show how our work has contributed to real change

Read our full approach

Or watch this video to find out more.

Do you want to get involved?

There is a role for you in transforming trade: whether you represent an SME, a Dutch or European importer, a consultant, or another organisation.

Get in touch

Are you interested in working for us as a consultant? Check our consultancy assignments page or visit RVO.nl (in Dutch) for our job vacancies.

Contact us

Would you like more information? Please contact us.