Flavia Santoro, president of ProColombia, said that over the next five years Colombian companies’ exports to Africa could increase by $134 million USD if that continent is interested in conducting such business.
“Africa is synonymous with opportunities for Colombian entrepreneurs, we must think outside the box and risk it to conquer new markets. Currently, we are working to strengthen relations with Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa, but we are also exploring opportunities in the Ivory Coast, Kenya, Libya, and Morocco ”, said Santoro.
For his part, the president of the National Association of Colombian Entrepreneurs (Andi), Bruce Mac Master, said that currently trade between Africa and Colombia is low, which is why work should be done to promote this new commercial attraction. “We have an immense opportunity when looking towards Africa, since the levels of trade currently registered between that continent and Colombia are very low, but we consider that doing this exploration opens up powerful possibilities that, in fact, have already been identified by some local entrepreneurs. Although for many this destination is still unknown, the truth is that some Colombian products are already reaching that place ”, said Mac Master.
According to Santoro, there are already ten companies selling to that region, including Colombia, Nutresa, Masglo and Alpina. In this regard, Deputy Foreign Minister Francisco Echeverry stressed that the African market had been recording significant economic growth rates until 2019, such as Rwanda (9.4%), Ethiopia (8.8%) Djibouti (7.5%). “There are promising signs for the coming years, so from the Government we are exploring the possibility of implementing new trading instruments with that region,” Echeverry said.
According to Andi reports, Colombian exports to the African continent account for only 0.6% of total sales in the world, and 62% of them are energy miners. “Export opportunities in agribusiness have been identified in products such as fruits and vegetables, processed foods, bakery and miller, confectionery, manufacturing, chemicals, agro-industrial, household items, pharmaceuticals, coatings, pipe and steel products, packaging and packaging, toiletries, plastics, clothing, among others,” Said Andi.
