The ambassador of the Netherlands in Colombia, Robert Van Embdem, said that his country was interested in closing new business deals with entrepreneurs from the Valle del Cauca regarding fruit, sugar and various agricultural products.
The ambassador spoke at a meeting and business conference, sponsored by ProColombia, the Chamber of Commerce of Cali, and the IDB, where he said that the priority of the Netherlands was to strengthen trade relations with Colombia because "Colombia is on a clear economic path. It has a growing middle class, and strong aspirations of joining the OECD and reaching a peace agreement."
Currently, Colombian exports to the Netherlands amount to nearly $2 billion dollars, while imports amounted to US $500 million on average.
Van Embden said that exchange had brought new opportunities, as well as investment in Colombia. Last year, investment from the Netherlands amounted to $488 million dollars and it was focused on the logistics sector, such as in the ports of Cartagena and Buenaventura.
He stated that the prospects in the Valle were bigger after the KLM airline inaugurated its direct flight from Amsterdam to Cali on March 28.
To that end, a mission of 12 entrepreneurs initiated contacts with companies from the Valle del Cauca to offer their products in sectors such as agribusiness, energy, environment, waste management, and health.
The idea is to close business deals in the coming weeks.
Source: elpais.com.co