ACCESS THE COLOMBIAN AND PERUVIAN MARKETS

• Discover the business opportunities Peru and Colombia have to offer;
• Review your market development strategy for these countries;
• Benefit from the advice of many experts;
• Get inspired by entrepreneurs sharing their experiences on this market;
• Network with entrepreneurs intending to develop their business there.

On February 17, our guest experts will address many aspects of conducting business in Peru and Colombia.

The economic development of South American countries has accelerated these past few years, and new up and comers are rising in this part of the globe. Colombia and Peru stand out more specifically due to their trade-friendly climate and the host of commercial possibilities they offer. The Colombian and Peruvian economies are indeed soaring and represent strategic business destinations for an increasing number of Canadian businesses. The recent free trade agreements with Canada have also made their markets more accessible and favourable for Canadian businesses, making these two countries from the Andes solid and promising business destinations.

Colombia:

Colombia is:

• An estimated 5% GDP growth in 2011 according to the IMF;
• The 2nd most important destination for Canadian exports in this part of the world;
• The 4th Latin American economic power;
• The 3rd largest country in the Latin America/Caribbean area, according to the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index;
• Bilateral trade with Canada worth $1.4 billion in 2010.

Colombia is also a country with a dynamic and fast-expanding market that is home to 46 million people, and whose economy is constantly growing. It has become a strategic destination for Canadian businesses who have multiplied partnerships with their Colombian counterparts these recent years. The wealth of the Colombian territory has helped it attract a large number of Canadian companies from the primary sectors, mine and oil exploration and agri-food among them, as well as processing operations such as printing. The involvement of President Santos in the implementation of the free trade agreement with Canada promises a nice future in terms of commerce between the two parties.

• An estimated 6.8% GDP growth in 2011 according to the IMF;
• Canada’s 3rd Latin American bilateral partner;
• Estimated Canadian investments worth $1.8 billion in the mining industry in 2007;
• A destination ranked 2nd in the Latin America/Caribbean area according to the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index;
• One of the lowest inflation rates in Latin America;
• $4.2 billion in bilateral trade with Canada in 2010.

• Entrepreneurs who intend to enter the Peruvian and Colombian markets or who are already conducting business there and would like to learn more;
• Businesses from the following industries are more specifically targeted:
  • Transport;
  • Infrastructure works;
  • Information and telecommunications technologies;
  • Agri-food;
  • Health, life sciences and medical equipment;
  • Green technologies;
  • Defence and security;
  • Energy;
  • Mines.