Importing, finding reliable business partners
All-round support in international sourcing
If you are an importer or a travel operator looking for reliable business partners, then Import Promotion Desk (IPD) is the right address for you.
We identify suitable suppliers, IT and travel service providers for you in selected developing and emerging countries. This means we save you the tedious effort and high costs of opening up new supply sources. We thoroughly examine all companies and provide you with reliable partners for long-lasting business relations that will help you achieve your corporate objectives.
Your benefits
- All-round support in international sourcing – neutral, quality-conscious and free-of-charge
- Contacts to reliable, tried-and-tested suppliers, IT providers and travel operators
- Ongoing search for new business partners and products for your corporate success
Hand in hand with the European economy
IPD is an initiative of the Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services (BGA) and the development organisation sequa gGmbH Partner of German Business.
IPD is funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). As part of our development policy objectives, we find exporters in our partner countries and prepare them intensively for all the requirements of the EU market.
Import Promotion Desk is one of the programmes offered by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to promote collaboration with actors in the private sector.
As of January 2024, all programmes will operate under the umbrella brand Partners in Transformation. This new title emphasises the partnership between the private sector and development cooperation, with the shared goal of achieving a social and environmental transformation in BMZ’s partner countries.
The programmes work with companies, trade unions, chambers of commerce, associations and other interest groups.
Find out more at Privatwirtschaft | BMZ (German only)
Our partner countries
Our product groups
Fresh produce
Fresh products all year round thanks to reliable suppliers from our partner countries.
Learn more here.
Cut flowers
Gorgeous flowers thanks to excellent climatic conditions. We arrange contact with verified suppliers in South America.
We will connect you with your new business partners.
Find out about our wide range of products from six product groups.
Natural ingredients
Whether it's ingredients for food, pharmaceuticals or cosmetics you're looking for: IPD supports you in purchasing high-quality products from all over the world.
Sustainable tourism
A growth market tour operators can profit from. We will put you in touch with evaluated partners in Ecuador, Tunisia, Nepal and Uzbekistan.
Sustainable seafood
The IPD opens up new procurement sources for sustainable seafood for importers. We will put you in contact with reliable suppliers!
IT outsourcing
Expand your IT outsourcing boundaries. We connect you with innovative IT experts in our countries.
Our Matchmaking-Events
Meet your new business partners!
International tourism trade fair
ITB Berlin 2025
Internationational tradefair for personal care ingredients
in-cosmetics 2025
![[Translate to Englisch:]](/fileadmin/_processed_/3/b/csm_Teaserbild_SEG_1__07734625e6.png "[Translate to Englisch:]")
World’s largest seafood trade event
Seafood Expo Global 2025
World's leading trade fair for horticulture
IPM ESSEN
International trade fair for confectionery
ISM 2025
Trade fair for fresh produce
Fruit Logistica 2025
Trade Fair for Organic Food
Biofach 2025
![[Translate to Englisch:]](/fileadmin/_processed_/8/8/csm_Design_ohne_Titel_cb5f5f4243.png "[Translate to Englisch:]")
Platform for all technologies related to industrial transformation
Hannover Messe 2025
EUROPE’S LARGEST SPECIALTY COFFEE TRADE SHOW
World of Coffee 2025
News
Women in Global Trade
Promoting the economic participation of women
As a member of the "Partners in Transformation" network, IPD actively supports the implementation of the BMZ's feminist development policy strategy. By promoting foreign trade, IPD aims to help promote women's economic empowerment.
A key focus of IPD is to create new employment, training and career opportunities for women as part of business development. IPD specifically supports women-owned businesses.
Find out more about the IPD's diverse approaches to empowering women.
Focusing on sustainability
Cooperation with the private sector
Sustainability is a top priority for IPD. In addition to economic sustainability, we also take social and ecological aspects into account when selecting and supporting companies in the IPD programme.
In this interview, Judith Emmerling, team leader of IPD`s Sourcing and Markets department in Berlin, presents the IPD's approach to sustainability.
She explains the importance of sustainability in global economic relations, how IPD prepares producers for the requirements of the European market and, finally, how importers can benefit from direct trade with IPD companies, also with regard to transparent supply chains.
IPD Update
Start of the 5th project phase
On July 1st, 2024, IPD entered its 5th project phase. At the beginning of the year, we expanded our activities once again: new partner countries and new sectors.
Additionally, as a member of the “Partners in Transformation – Business & Development Network", we are intensifying our commitment to sustainability and feminist development policy.
In this issue of the IPD UPDATE, learn more about the progress in our projects.
