Registration is now open to the Brazil Business Matchmaking Forum

Registrations will be open until August 5th for Colombian exporters to enroll and participate at the PROCOLOMBIA Business Matchmaking Forum to be held September first and second in Sao Paulo, Brazil. 

The Macro-Business Matchmaking Forum is of the Support Plan for exporters impacted by revaluation, the non-renewal of ATPDEA and the heavy rainfall season of the past few months.  Participation of at least 135 Colombian exporters is expected, who will offer their quality products in the sectors of manufacturing, services, clothing and agro-industry. To enroll, Colombian and Brazilian entrepreneurs may visit the web page www.procolombia.co to find all the information they need. The meeting will focus on specific sub-sectors. In manufacturing, for instance, exporters of bathroom porcelain, grills, steel construction products, high-end finishes and construction systems will participate. There will also be participation from the sectors of make-up, agricultural machinery, office furniture and plastics.

The services business will be represented by digital content, software and publishing sector providers, specifically around Spanish Lesson literature, given the high demand to learn the language among the Brazilian community.

The textile and garments sector will include participation by confection material, leather and accessories, underwear and high-end swimwear exporters. 

The agroindustry will be represented by entrepreneurs from the aquaculture, fishery and cattle raising sectors, as well as exporters of vegetable and palm-oil, alcoholic beverages, confections, bakery, insufflate products, snacks, processed vegetables and a diversity of prepared foods.

Brazil, the largest economy in Latin America, and the biggest market in the region with almost 193 million people, has become an important destination for non-traditional exports from Colombia.

The plan encompasses 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.

According to the information published by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism, based on DANE figures, exports to Brazil in 2010 reached US$1.040 billion, of which 62.8 percent were non-traditional products with sales in the amount of US$653.4 million.

Moreover, the sale of non-traditional products grew by 68.8 percent with respect to 2009, mostly due to the positive behavior of the manufacturing sector, which represented 94.4 percent of the total, and generated revenues for US$616.6 million.

Primary form plastics had the highest participation with 41 percent, followed by tires with 12.8 percent; the clothing and services sectors also registered an important variation, each with 61 and 82 percent as compared to 2009. 

Opportunities for exporters

PROCOLOMBIA has found concrete opportunities in the Brazilian market for the sale of construction materials, men and women's leather accessories, where the difference can be made in the sale of quality belts, sandals, wallets and purses.

As far as services are concerned, the Colombian publishing sector offers possibilities particularly for those interested in learning Spanish.

There are also large possibilities for business in Brazil for traditional flowers, oil and gas, dairy products, natural cosmetics, auto parts, belts, purses, garment materials, engineering and construction, and the printing and graphic arts industry.

Register for the Brazil Business Matchmaking Forum this September 1st and 2nd.