31/03-10   -   Press releases

IFU invests in breakthrough Fair Trade initiative in Georgia

International big business, local effect:
More than 90% of all Christmas trees sold in Europe are grown from the very best seed which is sourced in the mountain forests of the Ambrolauri region, Georgia. Christmas trees are ‘hot’ – especially when they’re Fair Trade trees, which distinguishes them from other trees, satisfies the demand from increasingly aware consumers and has the added benefit of returning investment to support the seed collectors, their families and the local infrastructure.

Fair Trade: a creative ethical business:
In 2009 the Georgian Ministry of economy and development organized an auction for the 28 prime lots from which is where the all-important top-quality seed come from. Bols Forstplanteskole, under management of the owners, Marianne and Lars Henrik Bols, is the Danish tree production company that has launched this valuable new initiative under auspices of ‘Fair Trade Danmark’ (Copenhagen).

IFU involvement:
At the auction, Lars Bols succeeded in gaining the 10-year licenses for three of the lots. The business concept and the current production and sales prognoses are so positive that IFU – THE INVESTMENTFUND FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES has decided to co-invest with the company by financing 50% of the total investment. .

High integrity: Transparency:
The central Jutland-based company is used to operating ‘across borders’, yet this new initiative is opening up fresh markets throughout Europe and beyond. IFU involvement confirms the high integrity of this small yet remarkably dynamic company, further reflected in the Fair Trade approval that they have been awarded. The company is not for nothing an active member of Transparency International!

Support from the media:
The internationally popular singer, Katie Melua, was born in Georgia and lends her enthusiastic support to the project which in the end improves welfare and well-being amongst her countrymen: “I am absolutely thrilled that fair trade has reached the poor cone pickers of Georgia. Fair Trees is a wonderful project that helps improve the lives of many people in remote areas of Georgia, the country where I was born."