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For the first time ever, Colombia, together with the other Pacific Alliance member countries (Chile, Mexico and Peru), participates in SIAL, one of the most important global food marketplaces that takes place each year in France. The purpose is to promote the supply of agroindustrial products of the four countries in an important market, such as that of the European Union.
To benefit from this, the four promotion agencies of this trading block - PROCOLOMBIA, Proméxico, Promperú and Prochile - pre-launched the Pacific Alliance in France, with the attendance of the ambassadors of the four countries.
Participants tasted typical food from the Alliance countries, such as guacamole flutes with guacamole and sour cream, beer and mescal in the Mexico stand meat empanadas and wine from Chile pisco from Peru and stuffed arepas and fruit juices from Colombia.
Thirteen Colombian companies, supported by PROCOLOMBIA, attend the SIAL in Paris, where they will present their offer of concentrate products, fruit pulps, frozen pre-cooked products, confectionery, sauces, Stevia, instant powder beverages, sugar and cornstarch.
C.I. Comexa, Colombina, Frugy, Biostevia, Factoria Quinoa, Ingenio Risaralda, Alimentos Polar Colombia, Mayaguez, Alimentos SAS, Pan Pa Ya, Agricol Continental SAS - Ditexcon, CI listo y Fresco, and Inversiones Omega de Colombia are the companies supported by the entity, which will be given the opportunity to establish contact with foreign buyers. For this year, 140,000 visitors from 200 countries are expected.
Pacific Alliance Recipes
During the exhibition, attendees may learn recipes prepared with ingredients that can be potentially exported by the Pacific Alliance countries.
Some of the recipes can be found at http://www.proexport.com.co/en/agribusiness/sialparis2012. Mango mousse, tree tomato marmalade, creole potato cookies, almojabanas (small cheese bread) and India Catalina sauce are some of the products that are part of the menu of Colombian flavors.
Opportunities in the European Union
One of the strengths of Colombia to offer products, not only to the French market but worldwide, are fruits and vegetables, which grow in the country thanks to its tropical climate, the temperature zone variety and lands that offer a wealth in nutrients.
"The country can produce, throughout the year, products like cape gooseberry, gulupa, granadilla, yellow dragon fruit, tree tomato, passion fruit and hass avocado, among others, which may be consumed as fresh fruits or used as ingredients in preparing juices, marmalade, jellies and ice creams", affirmed the President of PROCOLOMBIA, María Claudia Lacouture.
The Colombian offer also includes other agro-industrial products like sugars and sweeteners, coffee derivatives, palm oils, processed fruits and vegetables, sectors where PROCOLOMBIA has identified significant opportunities for Colombian exporters, who may benefit from the tariff advantages, once the FTA with the European Union becomes effective.
Colombia has an appealing offer of low-fat, organic food, with natural ingredients and ecological packing, which are also internationally certified as fair trade, organic production, HACCP, Global Gap, Florverde and UTZ, among other requisites that international markets demand.
"At Sial, we noticed how Stevia and Quinua have been greatly embraced among buyers" affirmed Lacouture.
Based on the information of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism, based on Dane figures, agro-industrial product sales abroad last year (excluding green coffee), amounted to US$ 4,439 million, representing a 15% growth compared to 2010. Particularly in France, exports in this sector recorded sales for US $22,940,535, where products like coffee derivatives, processed fruits and vegetables, prawns and shrimps, fresh fruits and flowers were outstanding.
