SUMMARY

Austria                          Australia                       Bangladesh                   Barbados

Belgium                         Bhutan                         Cambodia                     Canada

Comoros                       Cook Islands                 Czechoslovakia             Denmark

Dominica                       Dominican Republic       Egypt                           Fiji          

France                          Gambia                         Germany                      Greece 

Guyana                         Hong Kong                    Hungary                       India  

Indonesia                      Italy                              Jamaica                       Japan      

Kiribati                          Korea                           Kyrgyz Republic            Liberia 

Malaysia                       Mexico                         Netherlands                  New Zealand

Oman                           Pakistan                       PNG                             Philippines

Poland                          Norway                         Saint Lucia                   Saint Vincent Samoa                         Saudi Arabia                 Singapore                     Spain             

Sri Lanka                      Sweden                        Switzerland                   Tanzania

Thailand                       Trinidad                        Vanuatu                       Venezuela                   UK                                USA                           Solomon Islands

Products

Activated carbon           Aquaculture                   Bakery products            Cacao          

Car seats                     Carpets                         Charcoal                       Citric acid

Coffee                          Cotton                          Confectionery                Edible nuts

Edible oils                     Essential oils                Food machinery             Freight       

Fruit & Vegetables         Geotextiles                   Processed foods            Juices         

Hard fibres                    Ice cream                      Inflatables                     Jute products

Kitchen Electricals        Luggage                        Mattresses                    Membranes

Microchips                  Mulch                           Oleoresins                    Parachutes                            

 Peat                            Rice                             Rubber                         Shoes                              Soft drinks                     Spices                          Sugar                           Tea                               Tobacco                       Water purification           Water, bottled               Wheat  

as well as general coverage of all traded products.

Most recently.

Mid term evaluation of a project in the Pacific undertaken by EC on Facilitating Agricultural Commodity Trade (FACT). Vinay visited Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea in February 2011. FACT gives direct assistance to SMEs exporting agricultural commodities and develops national capacity to do so.

Participated in a rural livelihoods project in Madagascar by looking at the export market potential for cloves, vanilla, pepper and cocoa. Visited India, Indonesia, USA and Switzerland. Excellent collaboration from the industry.

Coconut Sector Strategy for Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam, for NZAid (proved waste of time). The province is the second leading producer of coconuts in the country but the local officials appear to want consolidation of farms through people moving into the city.

We are working with GTL on their investment in developing coconut husks and hope to work on cocofuel in the future. The intention is to develop all husk products, including mulch. peat and coir, mainly in South and South-East Asia. The investment could make GTL the world's largest producer and trader of peat as well as coir products.

The next stage of developing a strategy for plantation crops in the Solomon Islands is  to take place in the next three months hopefully. The first stage entailed advising mainly on coconut development options to the stakeholders. In the second stage, the stakeholders in the Western Province, Malaita and Guadalcanal held workshops in which various strategy options were considered. The options include production of coconut oil as a diesel substitute, spare husks for biogas, production of high value products like milk and geotextiles, The stakeholders expressed their preferences and proposals are being prepared to present to donors. At a meeting early in 2010 the options will be discussed, finalised and presented to donors.

At the same time, ADB and FAO are commissioning a study on the possible use of coconut oil on Pacific Islands as fuel for generation of electricity. Roughly 125,000 tons of copra is exported at very low prices at present and using the copra as oil for fuel would quadruple value added.

Vinay completed an assignment as Team Leader with over 100 local specialists on the team as Team Leader-cum-Value Chain Specialist (International Consultant) of the IFC-SEDF funded consulting services titled Baseline Surveys and Sector Studies in Agri-business, Light Engineering, and Textiles & Apparels Sub-Sectors in Bangladesh.

The next assignment is to look at coconuts again in the Pacific. It is suprising that more steps are not underway to develop coconust in the region given the degree of dependence on the crop. Measures to assist minor crops may be fashionable but will never have the same impact as an engine of growth. Vinay is travelling to Fiji to give a paper on coconut markets on behalf of the ITC at a roundtable organised by the Asian Pacific Coconut Community.

Vinay Chand was Team Leader on an EC Mission to undertake a Trade Needs Assessment in Egypt. This includes the full range of traded produce and industrial and manufactured products. The objective is to identify possible EU intervention to assist in developing trade and investment with Egypt as part of the EU Neighbourhood Policy.

Vinay Chand helped design the Cambodia Agriculture and Agribusiness Support Programme (CAASP) for AusAid. The contract included use of a local team to look at vlaue chains and farming systems for all main crops (including rice, maize, cassava, rubber, cashew nuts, fruits and vegetables and livestock) all over the country and to design areas of potential intervention by the state in the form of a framework, that donors can use. The work in Cambodia continued our interest in value chain approach and commodity analysis. In particular, it is interesting to find out precisely what is happening given the large amount of unofficial trade across porous borders that makes most of the published statistics badly misleading.

Vinay presented a paper on the Markets for and Marketability of Jute Geotextiles at a workshop organised by the International Jute Study Group in kolkotta, India. The industry from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan were well represented.In previous years we have helped prepare a Road Map for the Global Jute Sector and market studies on traditional and non traditional jute products.

We were given the opportunity of undertaking a pre-feasibility study in the Dominican Republic on integrated processing of coconuts on a private estate to be the centre of a tourism development combined with use of bio materials for energy. The products considered were coconut milk, virgin oil, mattresses and bio-energy.  

Helicopter shot of private Minches coconut estate in the Dominican Republic. 

Consultancies

2011   Mid Term Evaluation of project in the Pacific for Facilitating Agricultural Commodity Trade (FACT) for

          the European Commission as part of the exercise to plan a follow up project to the current one. Visited

          Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

2010   Examined the market potential for exports of cloves, vanilla, pepper and cocoa from Madagascar

        . Visited Cochin, Jakarta, New York and Geneva in course of the study.

           Coconut Sector Strategy for Binh Dinh Province, undertaken for URS acting for NZAid. Spent two

           months in the Province at a time when coconut prices climbed to 30 cents per nut.

2009   Global market for and market development potential for coconut husk products, including

          mulch, peat and coir products for GTL as part of a development in South and South-East

          Asia. The client is already producing in India and in Philippines. They will invest a great deal in the next

          five years in production and dowstream processing. The strategy promises to make GTL the leading

          player in peat as well as coir.

         Resource speaker for ITC at Pacific Roundtable organised by the Asian Pacific Coconut Community in

         Fiji. Paper on Regional and global markets and marketing of coconut products.

          Participatory strategy development for the coconut sector in the Solomon Islands for ITC

          as part of the EU ACP All Commodities Programme. Initial developments are to be in Guadalcanal

        , Western Province and Malaita.options being considered include use of husks for bomass, oil for biofuel

        , milk and charcoal. 

           Supervised 7 sector surveys and analysis in Bangladesh for a IFC study including: seeds,

           fresh and processed fruit and vegetables, garmenting, washing and dyeing, foundries,

           electricals, and poultry.

           Paper on Food Security at Africa Soft Commodities Conference at London by Cubic Globe.

           Team Leader/Trade Expert on EC Mission to Egypt to Provide

           a factual  assessment of ongoing trade related cooperation (EC-Egypt) and identify Egypt’s

           trade and  trade related assistance needs including in the area of industrial policy.   

2008     Value Chain Specialist on Cambodia Agriculture and Agri-business support Programme for Aus Aid to prepare a National Sector Strategy based on value chain analysis of main commodities and design of intervention required.

            Resource speaker with paper on Markets for and Marketing of Jute Geotextiles in a workshop held in Kolkotta by the International Jute Study Group, financed by CFC.

Project Identification study on the potential for Integrated Coconut Processing for high value products and energy self sufficiency as part of an agro-tourism Estate in the Dominican Republic for a private client.

2007     Agribusiness and Marketing Project, Market Infrastructure Assessment for ABCC of the Kyrgyz Republic and financed by the World Bank. The task was to assess proposals put forward by ABCC, the local party, for a public/private wholesaler/exporter operation for Agriculture in light of rigid dogmatic scepticism on the part of the World Bank Country Officer.

                          Kyrgyz Republic

Feasibility study on bottling operation for spring and mineral water in Bhutan for ITC

as  part of export oriented capacity building and institutional strengthening. Bhutan is exploiting spring

 water for the domestic market and has identified what appear to be excellent sources of mineral water.

Thimpu, Bhutan

Assistance to prepare tenders for major long term  IFC, EC and AUS AID projects

 and participation in interview presentation to AUS AID.

2006     The Market and Prospects for Erosion Control materials in South East Asia including gabions, geosynthetics and biodegradables for European Client.

Preparation of Position Paper for the International Trade Centre on Assistance to Jute/Kenaf, Coir and Sisal Global Industries.

Moderator at Workshop organised in Bangkok by the Thai-German Chamber of Commerce on the Export of Fresh and Processed Fruit and Vegetables for the European Commission.

Market Development of traditional and non traditional jute products for private clients who are three leading jute mills in Pakistan. The jute industry in pakistan is viable and enjoys good local sales, they are interested in exploring export led diversification.

2005     Team Leader/Marketing Expert on Mission to Support Creation of an Intra-ACP Thematic Programme for Implementation of the Plan of Action on Agricultural Commodities and Plan of action for the EU-Africa Cotton Partnership for European Commission. The Action Plan promotes commodity based sectoral development strategies through financial contributions (45 million Euros) to the World Bank, FAO, ITC, UCTAD and CFC to promote coordination in promoting the goals of the Action Plan. The Report is now being implemented. A PMU has been established, workshops held in all Regions covered and money disbursed to the International Organisations which are co-ordinating with one another to implement projects.

Moderator and Reporter on developing a global road map for jute financed by CFC, implemented by the International Jute Study Group and workshops held in Geneva, Calcutta and Dhaka by the International Trade Centre (WTO/UNCTAD).

Jute Workshop

UK Marketing and Distribution of Small Electrical Kitchen Appliances for Purity AB, involved contact with major manufacturers, wholesalers and retail chains in order to recommend a marketing strategy for Purity and to assist in implementing it.

Global Market Opportunities for high end residential water purification systems for HVR AB and prospects for proprietary Membrane Distillation Technology.

Preparation of background technical paper on Biodiversity Promotion Facility for Agricultural Commodities proposal for funding by GEF to be used in preparation of Consultancy Proposal by leading European Consultancy. Commodities covered included coffee, cocoa, cotton, sugar, oil palm, soya, oilseeds, and sugar.

Market development, promotion and sales of first commercial water purification units based on Membrane Distillation technology for Xzero AB. The main accomplishment was to agree a tentative test programme with Intel.

2004     Mission to look at production, processing and marketing of rubber in Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam to assist in the Planning for Smallholder Rubber Production and Processing in Cambodia on behalf of AFD.

Assessment and Evaluation of Global Market Opportunities for Jute and Jute Products for the SEDF of the International Finance Corporation/World Bank as assistance to Bangladesh Jute Industry.

Preparation of Conceptual and Technical Material on the identification of Pro-Poor Agricultural Growth-Engines using Commodity Chain Analysis in the framework of poverty reduction strategy for Food and Agricultural Organisation of the UN (FAO).

Team Leader and Agribusiness specialist Agribusiness and Commercial Agriculture Assessment for India on a Contract for Asian Development Bank, including analysing current regulatory regime, practices and value chain analysis with a view to promoting agricultural diversification and agribusiness development and a road map for five targeted states followed up by a Loan Preparation Mission from the ADB.

2003     Export Market Prospects for Diversified Agricultural and Agri-Business Products from Cambodia for the International Trade Centre (ITC) WTO/UNCTAD. Produce considered included fruit, vegetables, spices, herbs, essential oils, juices, cashew, coconut milk and mattresses. Presentation of findings to local SMEs as well as the donor community.

http://vinaychandassociates.farming.officelive.com/Documents/diversified_AG_draft_Report.pdf

Evaluation of NORAD project in Bangladesh to help participating private sector enterprises develop and export diversified value-added jute products. The project has led to product development of a higher quality fabric and products with substantial involvement of poor women working in remote rural locations.

Diversified Agriculture/Agro Business prospects in Cambodia for export led poverty alleviation for International Trade Centre (ITC). Preparation of basket of projects including horticulture, spices, essential oils and agro-processing.

Drying spices in Kampot

2002     Mission Leader on evaluation of operations and management of the Dambulla Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market in Sri Lanka and Business Plan for its possible expansion and privatisation for International Finance Corporation (IFC). Scope of study widened to Development of Horticulture in the Dambulla Region.

2001     Agriculturist on European Commission (EC) Pre-completion Evaluation Mission to Philippines on Agrarian Reform Support Project in 5 provinces: Camarines del Sur; Negros Oriental; and Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur in Northern Mindanao. The project provided support in infrastructure, credit and TA to mainly rice, sugarcane; corn and forestry small farmers empowered under land distribution schemes.

Mission on coconut product processing to Comoros for International Trade Centre in order to assess prospects for export led by-product utilisation.

2000     Business Plan for trading and distribution company to sell natural fibres and products. Operations to include warehousing, database, market development and promotion.

Evaluation of 20 years of programmes on  Jute Market 1999 Development and Generic 1999      Promotion undertaken by International Trade Centre (ITC) WTO/UNCTAD with       recommendations as to future policy on jute and similar activities.

            Marketing and Distribution study in USA for electrical kitchen appliances for HVR AB . Included establishing contacts with, visiting anad arranging for samples to leading new technology outlets like Sharper Image, major retail chains, mail order and specialist stores.

1998     Review and presentation of results of programme by ITC on behalf of Common Fund.

Liaison with clients and potential clients in USA and India for HVR, Xzero and Medea.

1997     Assessment of market for two wheel vehicle shock absorbers in India and manufacturers for an Italian manufacturer contemplating investment in India. Part of a feasibility financed by the European Community (EC).

Mission to India to discuss arsenic contamination of water in West Bengal for HVR. Arranged tests to check HVR could indeed remove all arsenic which it can, played advocacy role in close collaboration with the Chief Minister of West Bengal and Swedish Embassy.

1996     Marketing and Strategy for HVR: evaluation of options, financing and web stock trade.

HVR Products

Negotiations with Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation, IDBI and Venture partners on $10 million Processing Complex in Tamil Nadu, India by MCC Scarab.

            Undertook market research in Europe for CDE, EC sponsored feasibility study on

            production of coconut milk and coir products in Ghana.

 1995    Business Plan for HVR, producing point of use and point of entry water purifiers.

            Project Profile on Coconut Food Products Processing for private client in Ghana.