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International buyers who participated in the 2013 International Children' s Fashion Exposition (EIMI in its Spanish acronym) reported business expectations of USD 2.5 million and spot sales of USD 656,507.
As was confirmed by the PROCOLOMBIA president, Maria Claudia Lacouture: " Business opportunities were recorded in some new products such as bathing suits, travel items for babies, girls' accessories, cotton underwear for children, sportswear for dance, camping and gym, tutus for dance, footwear with leather soles for special occasions and guayaberas."
In total, PROCOLOMBIA invited 62 business people from 11 regions: the United States, Ecuador, the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Venezuela, El Salvador, Peru, Costa Rica and Panama. Out of these, 35 entrepreneurs had never visited the fair before, i.e. 56.4% of the group.
One of them was Victor Omatunde, manager of the American company, STF. " 60 per cent of my suppliers are from Colombia, a country I prefer because the FTA facilitates trade in terms of tariffs. Furthermore, the quality is very good compared to what is offered by countries such as China and other suppliers from the United States."
Pascual Espinosa Baez from Mexico also came to Bucaramanga for the first time. " I have a very good perception of the fabrics, which are very good quality, different to the standards of the Mexican market. Colombian fabrics have better appearance, quality and color."
According to the PROCOLOMBIA president, international buyers also reported opportunities in new markets such as Peru, Canada, Mexico and the American states of Ohio and Tennessee.
The innovation of Colombian industry is reflected in companies such as B2B in Bucaramanga, which makes exclusive collections of bathing suits for children from 0 to 12 years old. Its brand manager, Janette Pena Prada, explained that they work with " microcapsule linings of aloe vera and Karite butter, as well as an internationally certified UV filter certification in all their bathing suits. The Colombian market does not compete based on price, it competes based on quality and added value," she concluded.
