Creation of export support co-operation network to China in Latvia-Estonia-Finland cross-border region

LEF network to China: the summary of how Central Baltic tried to develop export into China
Almost 5 years ago, ambitious cooperation partners from Latvia, Estonia, and Finland (LEF) decided to work together with the aim to support wood sector enterprises in the Central Baltic region to develop export into China. The unpredictable journey started in 2018 through the project “LEF network to China” which was finished in early 2022.
In the project, various export support operations for companies were planned. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic dramatically changed the project plans which originally included plenty of travelling between LEF and China. In spite of the challenges, the project team continued to work, only with a different approach – online and remotely.
The project provided support for more than 80 unique wood sector companies from the Central Baltic region. The main joint activities, i.e. market research, export support training, and direct operations with 19 wood sector companies, were executed by providing marketing consultations, a sales agent and a showroom in China, participation in a Chinese Expo with a joint booth, export catalogue, online B2B meetings, etc. There were huge export ambitions that were reduced due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but which then turned into a great experience and increased competitiveness regarding the development of export into China for the near future.
More information about the project and its results: http://www.lefnetworkchina.eu/ and in Chinese: https://lefnetworkchina.taomuwang.com/

The project team consisted of:
Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Project Coordinator), Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, Estonian Wood House Association, Latvian Wood Construction Cluster.
The project team highly appreciates the confidence shown by the Interreg Central Baltic programme, which co-financed the project.