Procomer

Costa Rica’s Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (Procomer) has declared its seven-day trade mission to Europe on 12-18 July a roaring success.

The so-called ‘Costa Rica week’ saw eight local companies together with delegates from the National Bank (representing 10 small- and medium-sized companies) visit countries including the UK, France, Belgium and Luxembourg in order to raise awareness about the Central American nation and its wide-ranging export industry.

According to Procomer’s initial figures, the mission has generated in excess of US$1m in business for products such as coffee, pineapples, bananas and processed fruit, among other items.

“Costa Rica week was an excellent commercial opportunity for our country – it has allowed us to identify new European distribution channels for Costa Rican products,” álvaro Piedra, Procomer’s international markets manager said in a press release.

The mission included an exhibition of Costa Rican products in Brussels, Paris and Luxembourg, visits to local supermarkets, discussions regarding access to the European market, press conferences and a concert by the music group Phoenix – a bassoon quartet from the University of Costa Rica.