Fair trade is celebrated at the trade fair

In the hall, too, everything revolves around resource justice at the Fair Trade Mess. Until Sunday, April 7th, exhibitors will show what fair handling of raw materials and production in the areas of fashion, food and handicrafts is. Those who are thirsty for knowledge and enjoy playing will get their money's worth on the FAIRchange market.

Anniversary cake with the taste of the state partnership

At the opening of the Slow Food and Fair Trade Fair, opening speaker Cem Özdemir and Agriculture Minister Peter Hauk also congratulated, who, as a Baden-Württemberg government representative, handed over a special cake to Foreign Minister Albert Shingiro: vegan and locally produced by Café Kuchenliebe from Stuttgart, the cake is symbolic of the Essence of partnership. A combination of local spelled with a cream made from passion fruit and coffee is a symbol of what the partnership is all about: the exchange between Baden-Württemberg and Burundi.

More than 40 years of AMAHORO! State partnership

“The most important resource is people. This Burundian proverb should guide our actions.” This is how Philipp Keil, Managing Director of the Baden-Württemberg Development Cooperation Foundation (SEZ), summarizes the core message of the trade fair. The saying is translated from Kirundi, the national language of Burundi, and reads in the original Ubutunzi bwa mbere n'abantu. “We are therefore all the more pleased that the Foreign Minister of Burundi, Albert Shingiro, accepted the invitation to Baden-Württemberg and hope that the visibility of the state partnership will increase in the anniversary year!” The roots of the state partnership go back to the 1960s Initially personal contacts, which over the years have developed into a broad network of active and committed people. An official partnership agreement between Baden-Württemberg and Burundi was signed in 2014. At Fair Trade, Visit Burundi presents the partner country with its cultural and tourist characteristics. The Burundian association RC Retraining is committed to environmental protection and has brought jewelry and accessories from Burundi. At the Burundian Diaspora Germany (BDD) eV at the stand of the State Ministry of Baden-Württemberg you can find out more about peace and reconciliation work in Burundi and other AMAHORO projects! Experience state partnership. A little-known secret is the official partnership coffee “Café du Burundi” from WeltPartner eG. It is the best-known product from Burundi and the first fair trade organic coffee from the partner country, produced by the Burundian cooperative COCOCA.

Highlights of Fair Trading 2024 at the weekend

Things will get political again on Saturday at the development policy state conference in the ICS, which will focus on resource justice and the AMAHORO! State partnership concerned. But above all, visitors are invited to become active themselves: repair cell phones in the Repair Café,

Make future fashion yourself using upcycling and design techniques at DIY Sunday at the Future Fashion Forum. There is also something for those who are thirsty for knowledge and enjoy playing. Discover the new traveling exhibition “AMAHORO Burundi – partner country full of facets”, which is celebrating its premiere at Fair Trade. Find out “One World” on the barrier-free tour of the Missio truck. No slavery,” which also means modern slavery in Germany. After successfully completing the Fair Trade Rally, you can win great prizes from the exhibitors in the competition. These and many other offers attract visitors to the trade fair at the weekend.

Background to the SEZ

The Baden-Württemberg Development Cooperation Foundation (SEZ) strengthens the people in Baden-Württemberg's awareness of the global connections between local actions. Through events and conferences, it raises awareness of globally responsible actions and shows how everyone can do something for a fairer world. The foundation promotes and networks private, municipal and regional initiatives to improve and deepen partnerships with countries in the so-called Global South. The partnership with Burundi, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, plays a special role.

Location: Stuttgart, Stuttgart Trade Fair, Hall 1

Opening hours: Saturday and Sunday, 6th & 7th April 2024, 10:00 a.m. – 18:00 p.m

Tickets:

Day ticket weekday (incl. VVS) online: €15,00 / on site €18,00

Weekend day ticket (incl. VVS) online tickets €17 / on site €20,00

Lunch ticket weekday (only valid for Friday from 14 p.m.) Online ticket €9,00 / on site €12,00

Lunch ticket weekend (from 14 p.m.) online ticket €12,00 / on site €15,00

Children up to and including 15 years of age are allowed to attend the fair free of charge when accompanied by an adult.

Further information:

• Instagram: @fairhandelnmesse
• X: @BwBurundi
• bw-burundi.com/40years
• sez.de/fair-handeln