Within the framework of MetalExpo 2015, during 24th and 25th September, the Business Round had an international version and a national one, where 720 business meetings were carried out. What is more, 120 companies of the province of Córdoba, Santa Fe and Buenos Aires attended these meetings. Offerors of goods and services conducted business meetings with 16 companies of Argentina, Peru, Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil. The participating companies were: YPFB (Bolivia), Compañía Minera Volcan (Peru), Troya (Brazil), Cie (Paraguay), YPF, PeCom, Infa, Refinor, Flowserve, Central Nuclear Embalse, Fábrica Militar Rio Tercero, Astillero Api, Astillero Río Santiago, Astillero Deangelis, Ceipa.

This edition of the business round was organized by The Industrial Cluster of Oil, Gas, and Mining of Córdoba, the Chamber of Metallurgical Industries and Components of Córdoba (CIMCC), the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Mining and Scientific and Technological Development of the Province of Córdoba, EDIGAR S.A. and ProCórdoba Agency. Moreover, the Federal Investment Council (CFI) provided financing and technical and logistical support.

During the business interviews, Ronald Castillo, from Volcán Compañía Minera (Peru), highlighted that the company has seven plants where zinc, lead and silver concentrates are produced and he also said that he was interested in “Argentinean companies that are linked to metalworking, Hazardous Material Transportation Services and Construction Engineering Services with machine design according to our needs.”

On her part,  Noemí Martínez, from CIE limited company (Paraguay), said that the aim of her participation is “to know companies in order for them to provide us with products and services that are available when our factory needs them.” Regarding the meetings, she said that her company belongs to the naval sector and that she has met with potential suppliers. Moreover, she said that she has to find out the issue of pricing and sales terms. Regarding the search profile, she emphasized:“We need a supplier that is able to provide us with raw material that is already processed and we are analyzing the desirability of negotiations with companies from here.”

On her part, Kelly Tronchini, from the Brazilian company called Troya, evaluated: “In this opportunity I was able to get contacts, know about the offers of each company and request for quotations. Everything we have seen was a good experience .”

In the national rounds, businessmen highlighted their interest in Córdoba's production profile. Sergio Benito, from Pecom (Energy Services), said: “We liked the fact that there are family enterprises with a lot of technological development, engineering and intention of projecting themselves.” As a challenge for the province, Benito said that the companies they had meetings with belong to the automotive industry; however, they want to expand sales to other related sectors. “The oil sector is a very demanding market and it is different from the demand of the automotive or agro industry. If businessmen from Córdoba know more about the oil market, we will be able to establish commercial links”. Regarding the demands, Benito said that they believed that with companies from Córdoba, they will be able to fix a flaw in the oil sector: the after-sale service.”

Sebastián Alvarez, from Flowserve, said that they came to Córdoba “searching for suppliers that can offer a growth exchange.”

The business rounds were carried out in the framework of MetalExpoon, on 24th and 25th September, in Forja Event Center.