Namibian women-owned company Taneta Investment, a pioneer in the production and transformation of local Marula oil into luxurious cosmetic oil, has sent its first product samples to the US market.
The company, which has been exporting to neighbouring South Africa, has also secured orders from European markets such as Germany and Spain.
“The USAID TradeHub also linked Taneta to South Africa-based trade promotion and marketing agencies, culminating in a deal with a South African natural and organic retail and skincare company for the supply of Marula oil products.
“The global organic cosmetics market is growing and there are new export opportunities for Namibian-based companies like Taneta that successfully obtained organic certification with the support from the Southern Africa Trade and Investment Hub (SATIH), a project funded by the U.S. Government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID),” the US Embassy in Namibia said.
The company, according to the Embassy, partners with local rural women to obtain kernels of the Marula fruit and combines traditional knowledge with modern technology to cold-press the seeds into valuable Marula oil.
“The company is dedicated to engaging women and ensuring sustainability and safety while producing the best quality Marula oil for their clients. The new kids on the block of Namibian cosmetics producers are keen to protect such traditions, while simultaneously improving the livelihoods of the country’s rural women who constitute their supply chain.”
Marula oil is rich in vitamin C, E and other antioxidants that revitalise, nourish and protect the skin against premature aging. Its light texture allows for easy absorption to keep the skin moist and luminous, while Marula oil-based hair products prevent hair from becoming dry and brittle.
