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Colombia has the potential to become an international textile supplier

European wholesalers invited by PROCOLOMBIA to Colombiatex are looking for more non-Asian companies. The buyers complimented the local companies' response time.

The top priority for the delegation of European entrepreneurs attending Colombiatex is to find quality products, but they also commented on Colombia's advantage in competing directly with Asia as a supplier.

The European Union is the guest of honor at this version of the Colombiatex business trade show. Volker Eikelmann, representative of German textiles giant Werner Eickelmann, represents several well-known brands, including Hugo Boss and Diesel. He came in search of a complete package of fabrics and patterns for the children's apparel industry. He pointed out that European community entrepreneurs are too dependent on Asian suppliers, and he feels that Colombia has a great opportunity to gain ground in this sector. 

"Suppliers are raising their prices in Asia and Pakistan, and Europe is seeking alternatives, but now with the trade agreement with Colombia we no longer have to pay tariffs, so this is a great opportunity we can leverage. Moreover, a container from Cartagena to Hamburg takes two weeks to arrive, but a container from China to Europe takes four weeks", added Eikelmann.

The businessman indicated that in the search for new suppliers Colombia tops the list, because European entrepreneurs know the country's strength is the quality of its products.

PROCOLOMBIA has identified at least 116 products in the apparel sector with potential for the European Union, which range from special occasion apparel, leather goods, women's pants, handbags and bathing suits, to synthetic fabric garments for men and boys.

But there are other factors that the business people have to take into consideration when they choose their suppliers. "In Germany and Switzerland, eco-fashion has gained an important place. Today, more consumers look for fabrics in their garments that are environmentally friendly, and they highly value apparel made with recycled material. And they go further, looking for products that use sustainable production processes and are made by people in good working conditions", indicated PROCOLOMBIA President Maria Claudia Lacouture.

One of the largest delegations of entrepreneurs at Colombiatex, organized by Inexmoda, is from the United States. Some of the participants underscored Colombia's advantages in terms of response time, deliveries, design originality, fabric quality, and the qualified manpower.

Delegations from 23 Countries 

Present at the event were over 591 people from 378 international companies, coming from 23 countries, of which 201 are newcomers to the Medellin exhibition. Some buyers, like Joenny Abrew, representative of Cierres y Accessorios of the Dominican Republic, are interested in buying zippers and buttons from Colombia. "We are interested in labels, buttons and clasps for jeans. We formed some partnerships with local companies to export these items. Peru and Mexico are on the list of Colombian competitors, but what we want is for Colombia to become our number one supplier" said the business person. 

Mexican business people also came looking for supplies to make underwear and suits. "Colombia is always on the cutting edge of fashion; they are very advanced in the design of underwear and many other things. We came to see the new trends, the new colors. There is always something new in the textile industry," commented Uri Osoviecki, representative of Diteelmex S.A.

Ecuador was also represented at the event, with entrepreneurs looking for new suppliers of raw materials. "Colombia is very advanced in the industry. We buy from Colombian suppliers, and with that raw material we sell apparel to Costa Rica" announced Diego Alfaro, of Lencería Fina de Ecuador. 

In 2013, PROCOLOMBIA will intensify its efforts to drive Colombian textiles to strategic markets abroad, and to encourage entrepreneurs to take advantage of the benefits derived from the trade agreements and free trade agreements with the United States, Canada, the Northern Triangle, Mercosur, and very soon with Europe, once that trade agreement goes into effect.

Colombiatex in Numbers:

  • Ecuador (41), the United States (39) and Mexico (25) are the largest delegations of business people invited by PROCOLOMBIA this year. 
  • United States increased its participation this year by more than 38%, while Canada recorded an 83% increase. 
  • There are six buyers from Europe, recording an increase of 5% as compared to 2012. 
  • First-time participants included companies from Spain, France, Portugal, Brazil and the Netherlands Antilles. 
  • Foreign business people come in search of supplies and accessories for manufacturing and complete service packages for finished garments such as uniforms, sportswear, formal men's wear and underwear.