Dutch success at Colombian agricultural and floriculture fairs

Nieuwsbericht | 16-11-2023

The Expo Agrofuturo, Expoplantas and Proflora Fairs in Colombia were the perfect setting for participating Dutch companies. They showed and promoted their products, services and sustainable solutions for the Colombian market. They connected with clients, set up new contacts, and got to know the country during the most important fairs of the agricultural, nursery and floriculture sectors, respectively.

The LAN Bogota team at Agrofuturo - Léontine Crisson - Agricultural Counselour, Maria Fernanda Bernal - Agricultural Officer, Nicolás González - Agricultural Advisor.

The Expo Agrofuturo fair, one of the most important agrifood fairs, took place from September 6th to 8th in the city of Medellín. Ten companies participated in the stand of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Holland House Colombia, including Amstel Agro, Benefert, Easy Fresh, eLeaf, Geomap, Hotraco, Liquidseal, Rijk Zwaan, Van der Hoeven and Van Vliet. They were able to establish contacts and some of them found new business partners.

Beeld: ©LAN Bogota
Léontine Crisson during an interview at Agrofuturo

The mission also visited the Colombian companies Flores el Capiro and Montana Fruits. There visitors were able to get to know the companies and their interesting work and products. Like many agro related companies in Colombia, they have a strong connection with the Netherlands, going from using Dutch supplies, to the export of their products to the Netherlands.

During the second day of the fair, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands organized a networking activity, which was attended by high-level contacts like important governmental institutions such as the ICA to several agribusiness and producers’ associations.

Beeld: ©LAN Bogota
Some of the mission participants during the visit to El Capiro flower company.

The next fair was Expoplantas, from September 21st to 23rd. The Netherlands was country guest of honor and nine Dutch companies participated in the collective stand of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Holland House Colombia: ABZ Seeds, Broekhof, Evathia, Flora Supplies Unlimited BV, Koen Pack, Martin Stolze, Tropical Seeds, Könst Alstroemeria and Succulents Unlimited BV.

Beeld: ©LAN Bogota

In addition, other Dutch companies participated as exhibitors at the fair with individual stands such as Anthura, Floriculture, Jiffy and Dümmen Orange.

Léontine Crisson - Agricultural Counselour LAN Bogota, Jairo Cadavid - President of Colviveros, Reina Buijs - the new ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Colombia and Jos Akerboom - Account Manager for Colombia from Anthura.

The fair was opened by Pascal Koeleman from the Dutch company 2 Dezign, who gave the public a great show called "More theater, more sales". He showed participants the power of the flower and all about how to use marketing as a strong tool to sell more, especially using emotion.

The closing conference was presented by Mrs. Laura Piñán, international projects coordinator of the Dutch Naktuinbouw, on the importance and relevance on plant variety protection. She explained the impact and benefits of acquiring certified plant material and Colombia's potential in the field of varietal development, one of the most important aspects in which the Colombian nursery must advance to strengthen its competitive capacity.

Beeld: ©Colviveros
Laura Piñán from Naktuinbouw and Pascal Koeleman from 2 Dezign, speakers at Expoplantas.

Finally, on the last day, the Netherlands pavilion hosted the closing reception. The new ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Colombia, mrs Reina Buijs, gave a few words and toasted to another successful edition of Expoplantas.

To conclude this period of fairs, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands visited Proflora, the main floriculture event of this year in Latin America. This expo in Bogotá celebrated its 30th anniversary and about 30 Dutch companies participated in the exhibition.

During three days, from October 4 to 6, and in this first expo after 4 years, they were able to re-establish fruitful relationships and exhibit their innovations. On October 5, the LAN team, with the support of Holland House Colombia and the AirFrance KLM Martinair Cargo group, organized a networking reception gathering the Dutch exhibiting companies and other actors. This event focused on sustainability, strengthening relations between Colombia and the Netherlands in the flower sector.

"We had excellent comments from the Dutch participants, who were more than satisfied with the results of the fairs," says Léontine Crisson, the agricultural advisor of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, “thanks to the LAN-Bogotá- team and all who supported the activities.”

If you have any questions or would like to participate in any next expo, please contact us: https://hollandhouse-colombia.com/nl/contact

Source:https://www.agroberichtenbuitenland.nl/actueel/nieuws/2023/11/08/dutch-success-at-colombian-agricultural-and-floriculture-fairs