The Colombia Mission, carried out within the framework of Brazilian Footwear, a program to support footwear exports maintained by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados) in partnership with the Export and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), will have a record number of participants. The initiative, which takes place between June 6th and 8th, in Bogotá, will have 32 Brazilian footwear brands.

Abicalçados' commercial promotion analyst, Carla Giordani, will accompany the action. She points out that the record number of brands points to the growing importance of the Colombian market for Brazilian exports in the sector. "The interest in the action is greater with each edition. In 2022, Colombia imported the equivalent of US$ 43.8 million in yellow-green shoes, 28.9% more than in the previous year," she says.

According to Carla, Colombia comes on a sequence of growth in the economy. “In 2021, compared to 2020, the local economy grew by 7.8%. In 2022, compared to 2021, it grew by another 2.9%. This fact opens space for an increase in Brazilian exports there, since the country does not produce enough footwear to supply its market,” she evaluates, adding that, for 2023, the Colombian Central bank forecasts growth of 0.8% in GDP.

Expectations

Leandro Moscardini, export manager of Opananken, a company that participated in the last editions of the Mission, in July 2022 and in January 2023, points out that each edition achieves a better insertion in the Colombian market. “The local market still consumes a lot of leather footwear, which opens up important prospects for us. The expectations for the next edition are positive and our first objective is to realize businesses that were pending and make new ones”, he projects.

Participant of the January 2023 Mission, Rodrigo Babeto, export manager of Pé com Pé, says that the event generated several relevant contacts with large local players. “In the next Mission, we want to further strengthen the relationship with this important market for Pé com Pé”, he projects. According to him, the Colombian market has great growth potential for the brand.

Schedule

The Colombia mission will have a preparatory seminar on the local market on June 6th, so that participating companies understand how to further enhance the initiative for insertion and expansion in Colombia. The presentation will be held by the Brazilian Embassy in Colombia, an ApexBrasil representative and market guests. On the same day, in the afternoon, the first day of the brands' showroom begins and the Photocall, a relationship event with the local press that includes a photo session with models posing with Brazilian shoes. On the 7th and 8th, full days of showrooms are scheduled for the brands. "The rounds between shoemakers and buyers will be pre-scheduled (matchmaking), crossing offers and needs, optimizing negotiations,” explains Carla. All actions will be held at Salvio Parque 93 in the Colombian capital.

Participating in the mission, with the support of Brazilian Footwear, are the brands 365 Days, Actvitta, Azille, Beira Rio, Bia Baby, Bia Kids, BR Sport, By Cool, Delta Sport, Di Valentini, GB Footwear, Kidy, Mar & Cor by Kidy, Léo Baby, Léo Kids, Mac Colors, Modare Ultraconforto, Moleca, Molekinha, Molekinho, Opananken Antistress, Pampili, Pé com Pé, Perlatto, Renata Mello, Smidt Shoes, Solis Brasil, Suzana Santos, Vitz, Vizzano, Vizzia and Improviso.

About Brazilian Footwear:

Brazilian Footwear is an export incentive program developed by Abicalçados in partnership with ApexBrasil. This program aims to increase the presence of the Brazilian industry and its brands in the international market through development actions, commercial promotion and image. Read more: www.brazilianfootwear.com.br | www.abicalcados.com.br/brazilianfootwear.

About ApexBrasil:

The Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) acts to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and attract foreign investment to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. To achieve the objectives, ApexBrasil carries out diversified commercial promotion actions aimed at promoting exports and valuing Brazilian products and services abroad, such as prospective and commercial missions, Business rounds, support to the participation of Brazilian companies in major international fairs, visits by foreign buyers and opinion makers to get to know the Brazilian production structure among other business platforms that also aim to strengthen the Brazil brand. The agency also works in coordination with public and private actors to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to Brazil with a focus on strategic sectors for the development of the competitiveness of Brazilian companies and the country. See More: https://apexbrasil.com.br.