Colombia’s trade promotion agency Proexport says its 50th Business Matchmaking Forum, due to take place in Bogota on 19-20 February, is expected to generate business deals worth at least US$150m.
The event will connect more than 2,000 Colombian exporters from the agribusiness, manufacturing and services sectors with around 1,000 buyers from over 30 countries. The recently approved Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and Colombia means imports from the South American country are now subject to 0 per cent import duty. The EU is one of Colombia’s largest trading partners, with volumes reaching €13bn in 2013.
Proexport said a Virtual Business Matchmaking Forum will run alongside the real event to enable companies to make virtual business deals using telecommunications tool and allow them to create and change schedules during the event, pre-negotiating and validate proposals.
The event follows a ‘speed dating’ format, with each exporter rotating with each buyer according to a prearranged schedule. Appointments run for a duration of 40 minutes.
Two similar events held in Paris and Frankfurt in October last year generated an estimated US$60m in business, Proexport said.
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