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Furniture, office chairs, food, preserves, personal and home hygiene articles, auto parts, plastics, snacks, clothes, footwear and leather accessories were some of the most sought-after products by international buyers who participated at the Latin American and Caribbean Business Matchmaking Forum, which took place in the city of Bucaramanga.
The event gathered 145 international buyers invited by PROCOLOMBIA, who held business meetings with 324 exporters in the whole country at the Cenfer facilities.
" I have come to look at the garments offering, because I know that Colombian products are very well accepted thanks to their quality and design. These products are very well liked in my country, such that we are following your steps in matters of fashion,&rdquo said Waleska Gutierrez from Guatemala.
" I am specifically interested in contemporary style furniture from Colombia, because it is in high demand in Costa Rica these days. There is a lot of resemblance between the Costa Rican and Colombian likes and tastes, so I'm sure to find very interesting products here,&rdquo added Costa Rican Juan Carlos Araya.
The encounter, organized by PROCOLOMBIA, was proof that Colombian products have great opportunities in the international markets.
" Colombian Industry enjoys a good reputation, thanks to its varied offer," said Bernal Jimenez, who came from Costa Rica looking for snacks, corn flour, preserves and agro-industry products.
The buyers who are interested in the Colombian offering came from 17 different countries. Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Netherlands Antilles, Barbados, Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
While each country came with a specific agenda in mind, many were interested in other products they did not have in mind. " I came specifically to talk to two companies that offer commodity products, but other interesting opportunities have arisen with different companies. I think Colombian exporters have great potential. I think I am bringing with me several opportunities in a basket which I think will materialize" , said Andres Zablah from El Salvador.
Others highlighted the importance of this type of encounters. " Here you have the opportunity to meet different people, companies and groups, and that is a very good thing. You spend a half an hour dealing with a company and you can develop future relations with them, and you can get to know other companies&rdquo , concluded Ronald Hamblin from Barbados, interested in ceramics utensils, candy and snacks from Colombia.
Robert Montecinos from Chile said the same thing. " I think this is very effective because you are going straight to the people, the managers, those who represent the factories and their interest is honest having this interaction with them is like going straight to the factory to deal with them" .
