Colombia consolidates its position as an international supplier at a macro-business meeting in Europe

The business roundtable organised in La Nave de Madrid on 30 and 31 October by ProColombia, an entity attached to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism of Colombia, has generated spot sales of 3.4 million dollars and expectations exceeding 24 million dollars (including immediate business) with 45% of appointments with feedback. 

More than 1,100 business appointments were registered in this event that brought together more than 130 Colombian exporters from companies from 16 departments, of which 80% have a sustainable approach and 88 of them are led by women. 

By business size, 51 of them are micro, 29 are small, 19 are medium-sized, 10 are large companies, among others. Nearly 100 international buyers from 23 countries participated, with the strongest delegation being from Spain, followed by the United Kingdom and France.

The Colombian Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism, Germán Umaña Mendoza, highlighted the participation of a diverse and inclusive sample of Colombian companies in this macro business roundtable. He added that within the framework of the foreign trade policy promoted by the government of President Gustavo Petro, "we seek to ensure that companies of all sizes and from all territories have the opportunity to internationalise their productive offer and integrate into international value chains. This allows us to advance in the economic justice promoted by the Government of Change". 

For her part, Carmen Caballero, President of ProColombia, valued the results and the experience generated very positively: "The data achieved show that Colombia is a strategic supplier for Spain and Europe and that the macro-trade fair is a tool that has fostered business and commercial rapprochement on both sides of the ocean, as a result of articulated work and with a focus on promoting the internationalisation of our exports and contributing to the development of the regions". 

Although the data is still being studied, so far, by country, Spain led the intention to buy Colombian products with a total of 15,246,562 dollars, followed by France with 2,832,516 dollars, the United Kingdom with 1,475,124 dollars and Germany, which left a balance of 1,053,903 dollars. 

María Aristizábal, a buyer from El Corte Inglés, said: "We have come to the macro trade fair with our interest in household products, accessories and costume jewellery. We are looking for articles that maintain the essence of Colombian craftsmanship and ecology but are commercially adapted to the European market. Of the entrepreneurs we have met, I would like to highlight that they are very well planned and professional". 

For her part, buyer María Fernanda Muñoz, founder of the company Flor de Cali, attended a macro-trade fair for the fifth time: "At the moment we are opening a market in the European Union and our objective is to position ourselves as the first company to export Colombian handmade handicraft products made by women who are heads of households and displaced by violence. ProColombia's support has been excellent. They have seen us grow and have opened many doors for us".

The exporter Jader Mejía, from Asorhuaco, stressed the importance of attending an international event such as the macro-trade fair: "It is very important to be in these spaces where we can raise our voices, make ourselves known, share our knowledge, and carry a message of care for the environment. We bring coffee and we have very good feelings about the meetings we have had. Thanks to ProColombia for the invitation and support". 

And Jorge Cadamil, general manager exporter of Fruit Juice Colombia SAS, added to the positive assessment of their participation in the event: "The experience has been very good, it has even exceeded expectations because we have achieved a consolidation of 5 or 6 effective orders. We are very happy with the hospitality of ProColombia and the organisation of the event". 

In parallel to the macro-trade fair, ProColombia, with the support of the Madrid Chamber of Commerce, accompanied an exploratory mission of 30 companies belonging to the Industry 4.0, Agri-Food and Chemicals and Life Sciences chains, which had an intense agenda to get to know the Spanish and European markets. The delegation was made up of companies from PDET municipalities such as Saravena, Arauca and Tumaco, Nariño, as well as from Antioquia, Cundinamarca, Norte de Santander, Santander, Risaralda, Tolima and Valle del Cauca. 

The agenda consisted of experts who shared key variables to understand how prepared their product or service is to be successful in the Spanish market. In addition, field visits were made to Mercamadrid, the Dry Port of Coslada, the Telefónica experience centre and the iLab in Madrid. There was also space for keynote speeches by the EAE Business School, ICEX, Invest in Madrid and ASECAM.

Colombia and Spain, a consolidated relationship