African goods are virtually absent in Norwegian stores

[Hersir]

African goods are virtually absent in Norwegian stores.



Africa is a major recipient of Norwegian aid funds. 5.7 billion, equivalent to 21 per cent of the aid went to Africa last year. Imports from the continent, however, was far less.

Only two percent of Norwegian imports in 2010 came from Africa.

- We must stop thinking of the African countries that impoverished aid recipients and instead see them as equal partners, says Magnus Bjornsen, former head of the Norwegian Council for Africa.

Africa Campaign

This week, Trond Giske, Erik Solheim, and a number of Norwegian business leaders on tour in Africa to look at investment opportunities.

Bjornsen think it's high time. Now launching his campaign, "Enjoy Africa" ​​that will put the continent on the trade map.

- It sits in the spinal cord that our solution to other people's poverty is to give away money. But 50 years of development has shown that it has a limited effect. Africa must act out of poverty, says Bjornsen.

Get items



Magnus Bjornsen took nothing from Africa in the meat counter.

But if consumers want to buy African goods, how many are there to choose from?

Bjornsen took the Mega Event at Ullevaal in Oslo to investigate. The store has a wide range of products and more fresh disks. Committee African goods, however, disappointing. After several rounds in the shop, he finds only a handful of items from Africa: coffee, tea and oranges.

- This is not unusual. Africa, cheese, meat, honey and fruit that we could import, but we do not, says Bjornsen.

Coop says they have more goods from Africa in its range: grapes, roses, sugar peas, tomatoes, beans, strawberries and citrus fruits, with seasonal variations.

Nevertheless, it boils down to about a dozen products from thousands of products.

- African countries are largely raw materials suppliers for further processing in other country. Therefore, it can be Norwegians eat more African food than they think, says press officer Kristin Paus.

Mega previously had their own developing countries shelves in some stores, but this was removed because of low demand.

Little effect

In 2002, Norway introduced duty-and quota-free at last from the world's poorest countries. The purpose is to contribute to growth and poverty reduction through increased trade.

Today, defined nearly 70 countries by the Norwegian government as poor NOK to favored with toll free, many of them in Africa.

The trade, however, far from exploding. In 2010, imported Norway for a total of 1.3 billion from those countries. This corresponds to 0.3 per cent of the total Norwegian imports.
Attitudes prevents

Halvor Mehlum, professor of economics at the University of Oslo, agrees with Bjornsen in the Norwegians' attitudes are an obstacle to trade with Africa.

- Our impression of Africa has two biases. It appears that misery continent, and it seems monotonous. In reality, Africa is incredibly diverse and exciting, with many opportunities. If the Norwegians had gone on holiday to Africa rather than Thailand, it would lead to significant economic growth for the continent.


Magnus Bjornsen took no more than a handful of African goods on Mega.

Source http://translate.google.com/translat...t-6707004.html


Poor Magnus, losing his beauty sleep because our stores carry very few African products

A different aspect is that it's good we don't import much African goods because of the long way of transport. More local produce is better.

[Neophyte]

Since both the ivory trade and slavery has been banned, and they are clamping down more and more on blood diamonds, exactly what does Africa have to offer us except cocoa? Even a woman can only eat so much chocolate.

[Van Wellenkamp]

I think Africa is at its evolutionary dead end. They have reached the pinacle of society that their minds can comprehend. We preach alot of Darwin in our schools but we never seem to let it take its course