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DIRECTOR GENERAL OF BEE NATURAL PRODUCTS

Odido MARIA DI Fonzo

"Millions of Africans could do what I did!"

The first was a clothing store. The second, a video-store. A restaurant and then followed an insurance company, ranked 9th in Uganda (1.2 million euros turnover) and the only to be headed by a woman. There continues to be advertising agency, a real estate firm when the price per square meter started to climb. And others ...

structures still small, developed with a reduced staff, kept or not in terms of opportunities and market needs. Bee Natural Products, founded in 2003 to harness the honey from West Nile, is the latest. Not in the slightest. This SME forty employees already produces 80% of honey Ugandan exports to Europe. Since his very large office design on the top floor of Pan Africa House (it has) in downtown Kampala, Maria Fonzo Odido explains how to Amina in his country, a woman can create businesses by starting from scratch right out of high school. A good lesson management to all who dream of being boss.

What's your secret? Lots of people every day, lots of great ideas but not found so far at the head of a host of companies ...
There is no secret. I like action. I enjoy exploring an idea, a project in the shaping of my way.
I do not think it necessary to go out of business school to start a business. You have to see. The chance I had was perhaps early to know. After I left school at the Kenya Polytechnic college, I found a job as a secretary. 48 hours later, I was gone.
Then you must arrive at the appropriate time. Timing is essential. I started to earn my living selling in Nairobi (Kenya) second-hand clothes bought in Uganda because in 1980 the country entered into civil war. People needed money. In 1987, the video rental was very, very well because the war was over. People wanted to be entertained. And there was no competition. When I put the store on sale a year later, the buyer did not fail.
For cons, the export of fruits and vegetables to UAE has not got the results that the request implied. In 1992, Entebbe-Dubai flights were irregular. I ended up losing a lot of money with this, I resigned myself to close it.

You Bee Natural Products launched in 2003. The time was right?
Yes for two reasons.
The first is that the honey from West Nile, from the forest is 100% natural, meets consumer expectations. But it was harvested by farmers operating in each corner. From this informal small business, could make a real industrial sector, first by developing a range of products - royal jelly, wax, pollen for pharmaceutical, cosmetics ... - And another, by introducing a local crafts around the manufacture of protective equipment and beekeeping equipment.
The second reason is that the European Investment Bank dispensable a special fund to help start-up of east africa and ready at the rate of money market money of 50,000 dollars, approximately One million dollars. I sent a file. It was accepted, I received a pilot program and, under this fund t (APEX fund), borrowed $ 700,000. I can start building the plant. In addition, the Shell Foundation has given me a study on beekeeping in Uganda and in addition, granted a loan in the form of lease repayable in five years. I could, keeping cash flow, install solar equipment and diesel generator required to produce electricity at the plant.

Beautiful conditions to start.
unexpected. In Africa, an SME has great difficulty in accessing funding. We need to know. Otherwise, millions of Africans could do what I did. When a bank you offers 26% how do you accept? Especially since it requires a mortgage on your house, your land provided that such goods have value. It is not surprising that the continent does not "take off" step. Who makes up the economic fabric of a country if its SMEs? Africans do not want to be assisted, they want the means to generate wealth. That's how the West has prospered. I am very grateful to the Shell Foundation. Without it, I said over and over again, would not exist Bee Natural and whole families of farmers are still in poverty. Improve their living conditions held me to my heart.

How have they changed?
Initially, we had a contract with 235 farmers. The number increased to over 3500 in five northern districts: Arua, Nebbi, Yumbe, Moyo and Adjumani. Their income
quituplé. They bought the equipment, some people make themselves the offseason, with our help. We teach women how to make candles ... These are women who manufacture protective equipment: gloves, masks, veils.
With CE (European Community), we export to Germany and Norway since December 2005. We aim to other European markets. Bee Natural Products will also at the "Soils of the World" at the Porte de Versailles in Paris on 14-15 June And we hope to have the appellation "organic honey" at the end of this year. It's a start. The more we grow, the more the community will benefit.

How did you get the CE mark in so short a time?
outset, we processed honey in a professional manner, imposed rigorous quality controls and strict sanitary conditions. The staff spends a medical quarterly, at our expense and the operators and the operators assigned to the chain packing using a separate shower room on arrival and so on.
My husband, who is Italian and has worked for years as a consultant for British customers, helped me understand the EU rules. I, for my part, supervised the drafting team standards bee at the Uganda Standardization and the working group to develop an export strategy in the Uganda Bureau of Export Promotion apiculture and Department of Agriculture. The task was daunting, the Brussels' criteria are more stringent than those of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in U.S.. But it was exciting. Bees fascinate me, they have beneficial effects on health. I resigned from my position as National Treasurer at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uganda and has to stop other activities to devote myself to beekeeping.