Exporters exchanged experiences on the Chilean and Colombian markets at the first ADIEX networking breakfast
Success of this first call held at FEDA, with the collaboration of BBVA
Exporters were alerted that both Chile and Colombia are very bureaucratic markets and natural wealth is often used as a trade barrier
What was sought with this initiative ADIEX it was to break the format of a conference or technical seminar and, mainly, to share information in an open forum among the exporting companies. And this objective of the first networking breakfast of exporters for exporters held at FEDA has been fulfilled. Thus, the participants have valued it with a nine out of ten.
The success has been based on the fact that no one better than a businessman from the Association to which a company belongs, in this case ADIEX, and who works in the markets under analysis, such as Chile and Colombia, exposes the reality when making immersion in these countries.
Iván Torres, CEO at Perinox, S.A., also president of the Association of Importers and Exporters, ADIEX has been entrusted with leading this first experience in which fifteen companies have participated, members of FEDA y ADIEX, from sectors ranging from organic products, specialized machinery, renewable energy, irrigation systems, chemical products, metal, paint and of course agri-food.
Perinox has teams in countries as diverse as Algeria, Russia, Chile, Colombia or Croatia, which has allowed them to share and exchange impressions with the participating companies, many of them with experience in multiple markets, from one or two, to more than 20 different countries and environments.
We are similar but not the same
This first networking breakfast has made it possible to highlight key ideas when planning exports to Chile and Colombia. They are not similar markets, nor can their geography be worked in the same way, and the way of doing business is very different.
Among those attending this breakfast, preferences for working with one country or another were divided. Colombia has managers and executives with a high educational level, they come from the American School, and you have to change the role when negotiating.
In decision-making and project development they are slow countries, especially Colombia. It should be taken into account when doing business to review the Clinton List (It is how the black list of companies and people linked to having relations with money from drug trafficking in the world. The list is issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury).
Those persons or entities that carry out business with the individuals or companies included in the Clinton list can face penalties of up to 30 years in prison and fines of more than 5 million dollars for natural persons and up to 10 million dollars for legal entities. .
A very definitive conclusion of this exchange of experiences for exporting companies is that both Chile and Colombia are very bureaucratic markets and depending on which areas, natural wealth is often used as a trade barrier.
Financing:
The breakfast has had the collaboration of BBVA. Thus, interesting concepts were also exchanged with experts from the entity, such as Samuel García Eslava, director of Corporate Banking in Albacete, who stressed that Chile and Colombia are countries where it is important to use exchange insurance, and try to work from dollar to euro . There is financing and relationship with entities in destination. And the forms of payment must be structured between a part in advance, letter of credit and financing, it is important to handle it well to close operations.
The following "Exporters networking breakfast for exporters" already has companies and markets proposed to present their experience: United States, Panama, Mexico and Central America, Maghreb and the Middle East.
Once again, FEDA starts with different formats that give great added value to the business fabric of the province.
