ProCórdobaAgency reports that it participated in AidEx 2015,  together with a representative of the new Export Group "Grupo SEA" (Emergency Supplies and Humanitarian Aid), with the support of the Federal Investment Council (CFI). The specialized fair of the humanitarian aid sector was held in Brussels, on 18th & 19th November.

The export group "Grupo SEA" has been recently created and it is made up of six Cordoba export companies that have the capability of supplying products and services related to prevention, emergencies and support in adverse events and natural disasters: Savant, R&O Valle, José Guma SA, Cisgroup, Inforest and MR Technologies.  

AidEx is the specialized fair where the institutional leaders, multilateral organizations and NGOs linked the humanitarian aid sector were present this year. A large number of  suppliers of products and services regarding this sector were also present in the fair. In this edition, the central topic of the exhibit and presentations was “Collaboration,” with the aim of highlighting the importance and the overarching impact after linking all the participants together and mainly with the Private Sector.

There were also meetings with the officials of the Argentine Embassy accredited to Belgium and the European Union. Regarding this, it is important to say that the diplomatic officials accompanied the delegation during the fair. The coordinators conducted a guided tour to the exhibit.

The delegation attended the presentation of the panels of experts. They also had contact with the leaders and there were interviews with the organizations and companies that were present. It was an opportunity to present ProCórdoba and Grupo SEA. Among the institutional exhibitors, the UN's Refugee Agency, the Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department (ECHO) and OXFAM were present.

The work of Córdoba was introduced to Christophe Yvetot, Head of UNIDO Brussels Office, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); Monique Pariat, Director-General of the Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO); Marcy Vigoda  on behalf of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs  (OCHA); Rolando Tomasini, UNOPS Head of Private Sector Partnerships; among others.

It is important to say that in the fair there was a stand of the WHS World Humanitarian Summit; i.e. the World Humanitarian Summit that is going to be organized by the United Nations  in May 2016. It was a great opportunity for ProCórdoba Agency to explain the importance that is given to the role of the private sector in the generation of awareness on this topic. The participation of the Agency in the Regional Consultation for Latin America was also informed mentioning the importance of the Private Sector and in accordance with the role that SMEs can pay as suppliers as well as their philanthropic role.

There was an exhibit of the World Food Programme in the European Parliament, at United Nations Headquarters in Brussels, where information was gathered about its functioning and the role of the Office for the  Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Europe. There was a visit to the new headquarters of Doctors Without Borders in Brussels. 

Regarding the Humanitarian Aid, from ProCórdoba Agency, we seek to contribute to raising awareness about the importance of these challenges and the link with the private sector. The participation of companies in the most important fairs in the world has been greatly facilitated, a Handbook on Procurement of Humanitarian Supplies has been made and the creation of Grupo SEA has been promoted. These were the reasons why in the second half of next year a reverse mission in Córdoba is foreseen.