16/10/2014
ProCórdoba Agency, under the Ministerio de Industria, Comercio, Minería y Desarrollo Científico Tecnológico (Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Mines and Scientific-technological Development),together with Fundación Exportar (Exportar Foundation) and ProArgentina, organized a multisectoral mission in the framework of the ExpoCruz Fair, in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. It was held from 24th to 28th September and it was coordinated by José María Costa, member of the area of Commercial Promotion of the Agency.
In this event, 18 Córdoba companies interested in this market participated. These companies had the opportunity to be part of the Business Round of the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce (CAINCO) and organize their own trade agenda.
The participating companies from Córdoba were: Paper S.R.L., Gatti S.A., Guillermo M. Iribarren, Pinturas Floma, IR Argentina S.R.L., Hasa S.A, Daniel Griboff, Bartolome Macchiarola, Juan B. N. Blangino, R y O Valle S.R.L., Cordeiro y Cia, Krear Kit, Gualtieri Hnos. S.A., TL Group S.R.L, Ferretera General Paz S.R.L., Industrias Cormetal S.A., Maguir S.A.C.I.F.I.A and Acquatécnica.
About the interest in the mission, Martín Cerezuela, from R y O Valle S.R.L. (special vehicles) said:
“The aim of participating in Expocruz mission was the research for the Bolivian market, which will have a great potential in the next years because of the exponential growth of its economy. What is more, participating in Expocruz allows us to contact the most important industrial and commercial companies in Santa Cruz de la Sierra in order to evaluate possible joint ventures or representation agreements and start having our brand presented locally.”
With respect to the results, Cerezuela said that there are a lot of business opportunities with Bolivia because they have received particular demands for sanitary units from private companies of emergency services that need to provide the increasing local projects for the extraction of oil, gas, and minerals with their services. In turn, he explained that nowadays those kinds of units are imported from Brazil to U.S.A., and that Argentina is able to offer a good alternative as regards price and quality.
Miguel Cipollari from Acquatécnica said that, as a producer of sewage treatment systems, he emphasizes this market because of the great number of the massive social and economic growth of Santa Cruz. There was a proliferation of new neighbourhoods and condominiums.
Cipollari also talked about the future business opportunities:
“I went to meet with people who needed my services and, by taking advantage of this contact; I went to see which other contacts of the same kind can be made. They got interested in a sewage treatment system for a private neighbourhood and we have other business opportunities in the long term.”
For his part, Fernando Ciocca from Krear Kit, company engaged in online payment services via credit card for businesses, professionals and stores, said that from this mission, he was able to see the interest of lots of things that his company can contribute to the sales and digital technology development.
With respect to the possibilities of the development of digital technology, Ciocca added:
“We have a system of payment for suppliers, payment with credit card, which they don’t use in Bolivia. It's a online payment system like MercadoPago (similar to PayPal) but with more tools. We are also considering the possibility of entering with this innovation.”
ProCórdoba Agency has carried out this mission for 10 years because of the importance of the ExpoCruz Fair and the Bolivian Market, which has a demand that the SMEs from Córdoba are able to meet.
Exports from Córdoba to Bolivia
Sales from the Province of Córdoba to the neighbouring country for the last five years ranged from USD 40 million to USD 57 million. As regards the major fields, in the last years the sales of industrial manufactures (MOI) increased, in 2011 the sales meant USD 15 million and in 2013 the exports represented USD 21 million.
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On the other hand, the main exported goods are chocolate and chocolate products (14%), wheat flour (12%), malt extracts (11%) and sugar confectionery without cocoa (9%).
To have access to more information about the participating companies in this mission, other export companies or companies with export potential, you can visit our website Exportadores de Córdoba by clicking here.
