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66 Canadian entrepreneurs will visit Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Pereira and Armenia in order to learn which business opportunities are available through NAFTA, to find new suppliers and identify investment opportunities.
The buyers mission organized by PROCOLOMBIA called ' Discover Colombia' entails several visits to 77 Colombian exporter companies which offer non-mining products and services from the agribusiness, clothing, services and manufacturing sectors.
" The goal is to establish Colombia as a supplier of goods and services, show what are the benefits of the free trade agreement in force, the delivery times and competitive prices which are offered by Colombian exporters, the quality, the skilled workforce and the strategic geographical location we have with access to two oceans" highlighted the president of PROCOLOMBIA, Maria Claudia Lacouture.
The tour will begin at the AR Salitre Hotel in Bogota on Tuesday November 26, where PROCOLOMBIA will have an opportunity to explain what are the main reasons for doing business in the country. Then entrepreneurs will be divided into groups according to their sector of interest.
" In Bogota, Canadian companies are looking for uniforms, auto parts, construction materials, containers and packaging, fruit and vegetables, animation, video games and mobile applications. In Medellin they will visit sportswear companies in Cali bakery and biscuits, sugars, and processed fruits and vegetables and in Armenia and Pereira they will visit coffee producers" said Lacouture.
Trade agreement and opportunities
Between August 2011, when NAFTA went into effect, and August 2013, according to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, and according to DANE&rsquo s figures, the energy non-mining exports totaled U.S. $ 224.4 million, showing a growth of 19 % compared to the same period the previous year, i.e. August 2009 and August 2011.
The Agribusiness products showed the highest growth since the launch of the trade agreement exporting U.S. $ 28.34 million higher than this period. Exports totaled U.S. $ 145.27 million, primarily from the sale of fresh flowers, sugar and molasses, and oil and grease.
The agreement has also encouraged the export of new products. Between August 2011 and September 2013, Colombia exported 154 products that had not been traded before, such as facial tissues made from paper pulp, some electric appliances, cane molasses, avocado, gelatin capsules for drug casing, cocoa powder and wool socks.
In addition, 327 companies exported to Canada for the first time. 157 of them are from Bogota, 83 are from Antioquia, 28 from Cundinamarca, 16 from Valle del Cauca, 7 from Risaralda and 1 from the Quindio department.
134 companies are part of the manufacturing and supplies sector followed by 116 in the agribusiness, 75 in the apparel and 2 in the services sector.
PROCOLOMBIA meanwhile has identified business opportunities in at least 48 sectors of Colombian exports.
- 16 potential agribusiness sectors: oils and fats, sugar and molasses, cocoa, coffee byproducts, fish fillets, flowers and foliage, fresh fruits, processed fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices, fresh vegetables, ornamental fish, miscellaneous edible preparations, confectionery, bakery and milling, oil seeds and oleaginous fruit and animal byproducts.
- 11 within manufacturing: electrical appliances, household goods, industrial products, auto parts, cosmetics and toiletries, containers and packaging, articles of iron or steel, construction materials, furniture, plastics and rubber, and pharmaceuticals.
- 11 within apparel: shoes and footwear supplies, treated leather, jeanswear, leather goods, shapewear, sportswear, childrenwear, underwear, textile and supplies, uniforms and swimsuits
- 10 within services: development of digital animation, mobile apps, video, audiovisual (locations), advertising, publishing and printing industry, engineering, software, BPO and health services.
