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The traditional business matchmaking forum organized by PROCOLOMBIA, year after year, within the framework of Colombiamoda, will have a twist in 2011, enabling international buyers to get a deep look at the national offering, and exporters to exhibit their products in a more professional way.
Colombiamoda is the most important fair in this sector in the country, organized by the Institute for Exports and Fashion (Instituto para la Exportación y la Moda), Inexmoda.
This year, 620 international buyers will participate in the business matchmaking forum, and they will no longer meet in a room, but will rather be able to walk around the exhibition stands of Colombiamoda and get a first-hand look at the business offering, set appointments with the Colombian entrepreneurs and, eventually, become interested in other products.
The change has been appreciated by the local entrepreneurs. “If the buyer comes to by exhibition stand, fabulous!, that way I can convey the best image of my products and that will make it easier to do business,” said Hernando Pulido, General Manager of Barsotti SAS, a men’s shirt exporter.
So far, business meetings have been scheduled with 450 Colombian exporters.
“Last year we contacted a company from the United States, and for them to really understand our business, we took them to our store to actually see what we wanted to show them,” said Clara Palacio, Sales Manager at Ellipse, a swimsuit and under garments company, which welcomed this year’s changes.
International buyers will arrive from Venezuela, Germany, Mexico, the United States, Guatemala, Peru, Spain, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Chile, Canada, the Caribbean, Switzerland, Russia, France and Poland.
Foreign visitors’ attendance always raises great hopes among Colombian entrepreneurs. “We want to meet with our existing clients, but we are looking for new opportunities in Mexico and Canada, where our product has a lot of potential,” said Diana Amaya, Manager of CI Draxy International, a women’s jeans manufacturer.
“This year we will take advantage of Colombiamoda to launch a new product line, thinking especially of Ecuador and Venezuela, although once there, we will be prepared to work with international buyers from many other countries,” added Jorge Sierra from Cannon S.A., manufacturers of towels, sheets and quilts.
A Sector Full of Opportunities
PROCOLOMBIA has found that the country has ranked itself very well internationally in the past few years thanks to the quality of Colombian materials and its innovative products and designs.
One of the sector’s strengths is that Colombian exporters have managed to satisfy the needs of the buyers from the various markets, and the country’s skilled hand labor has ranked as outstanding.
The markets from Peru, Italy, Mexico, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Guatemala, Brazil, Spain, Germany, Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, and Thailand have been identified as potential opportunities.
As far as products are concerned, men’s and women’s underwear, children’s clothing, casual, sports, swimwear, textile consumables (weave lace and embroidery), uniforms, jeans and semi-processed leather have great possibilities to successfully penetrate these markets.
According to the information by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism, based on DANE figures in 2010, the sector’s exports reached US$1.303 billion. The garments subsector had the largest participation with 55.1 percent over a total of US$717.8 million, followed by textiles with 23.9 percent and sales in the amount of US$311.7 million, and leather (rawhide and processed) with 8.9 percent and sales in the amount of US$311.7 million, and leather (rawhide and processed) with 8.9 percent and US$116.3 million in sales.
