Colombiamoda 2011 kicked off with 684 international buyers invited by PROCOLOMBIA

A total of 684 international buyers arrived in the country to attend the business encounter, taking place in Colombiamoda, one of the most important fashion fairs in Latin America.

From the 26th to the 28th of July, the Plaza Mayor de Medellin (Medellin Main Square) will exhibit the offering by 450 Colombian exporters from the textile and apparel sector, who will participate in the business encounter.

With the support of PROCOLOMBIA, the buyers from 29 countries will have the chance to visit the entire fair and get a first hand look at the products in the exporters' exhibition stands. "This will allow them to better appreciate the entrepreneurs' offering, with whom they have already set up business appointments to create interest in other products", explained the President of PROCOLOMBIA, María Claudia Lacouture.

The group of international buyers is led by Venezuela with 184 business people, mostly department store owners and manufacturers seeking to find new designs in under garments, women's swimwear, casual en's and women's apparel, business shirts and jeans wear. The second country with the highest number of buyers is Ecuador with 157, also owners of department stores, wholesale importers and direct sales merchants, as well as boutique owners, representatives and distributors from the neighbor country who come to buy girdles, women's underwear, casual, children's and sports clothing to take back to the Ecuadorian market.

Moreover, a group of investors looking for franchises for Ecuador will be attending, looking for casual fashion and jeans wear brand names for mid to high income level teenagers.

Also visiting will be the United States (74); Mexico (69); Costa Rica (55); Guatemala (23); Canada y Peru (16); the Dominican Republic (13); Puerto Rico (12); Chile (11); El Salvador (7); Panama (6); Switzerland, Honduras, Aruba and Germany (5 each); Argentina (4); Jamaica (3); Brazil, Spain, the United Kingdom and France (2 each); Argelia, Trinidad and Tobago, Netherlands, Monaco, Portugal and Suriname (one per country).

The international participation in Colombiamoda increased this year, moving from 630 in 2010 to 684, as part of the Support Plan for exporters impacted by revaluation, the non renewal of ATPDEA and the heavy rainfall season of the past few months, which PROCOLOMBIA began to execute this past July 1st.
In this strategy, which will extend itself during the entire second half of 2011, the plan will encompass over 50 promotional activities like buyer and seller fam trips, business matchmaking forums, market and marketplace information, and participation at the most important international fairs, expecting to provide support to nearly 1,200 exporting companies.