Positive Outcomes from Business Event in Morocco
ProChile Ñuble recently celebrated the successful participation of six regional companies in the Business Roundtable Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, held in Rabat, Morocco. This event has generated optimistic projections for the regional export sector. Among the participants was Luis Agurto, Finance and Operations Manager of Agrícola Santa Isabel de Cato, who emphasized the importance of this experience as a pivotal opportunity for expanding commercial prospects.
Matías Mandiola, the regional director of ProChile Ñuble, noted that the six companies involved in this commercial event, which took place during the first week of June, included Nature South, Agrocomercial San Francisco, Lomas de LLahuén, Vivatoerra Organic, Terroir Sonoro, and Agroex. The delegation engaged in meetings with buyers from Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, alongside visits to local markets and sales points.
In total, the business roundtable brought together 16 Chilean exporting companies and 30 potential importers from 13 countries, resulting in 188 business meetings and projected deals exceeding $16.2 million. This positions Morocco as a strategic platform for accessing new markets.
Exploring New Markets
For Luis Agurto, one of the most appealing aspects of this event was the chance to showcase Agrícola Santa Isabel de Cato's organic apple offerings to buyers in a region that boasts nearly 2.7 billion consumers. He explained that while the company primarily exports to the United States and Europe, exploring new markets presents an invaluable opportunity for diversifying sales.
Agurto expressed that the experience exceeded his expectations, particularly due to the interest shown by importers and the high level of organization of the event. He noted that despite the full agenda of meetings and field activities, each encounter facilitated concrete connections and a better understanding of potential clients' needs.
He further highlighted the effectiveness of the business roundtable format instituted by ProChile, where meetings lasting 15 to 20 minutes provide an efficient initial contact with buyers. According to him, these encounters serve as a foundation for building medium- and long-term commercial relationships based on trust and mutual understanding.
Another valued aspect was the opportunity to gain insight into the business culture of Morocco and the broader African and Middle Eastern markets. Although language barriers posed a challenge, Agurto affirmed that the support from the local ProChile team was crucial in facilitating meetings and developing the commercial agenda.
In conclusion, Agurto stated that this experience underscores the importance of continuing to promote such international initiatives. He mentioned that several importers expressed interest in visiting the company’s facilities in Ñuble, opening the door for future commercial visits and strengthening ties that could lead to new export opportunities for the region.
As reported by prochile.gob.cl.
