Ecuadornews:
In 2018, more than 1,300 entrepreneurs, especially representatives of medium and small firms, attended 167 commercial promotion events between fairs, missions and business rounds. The figures are part of a balance of achievements of ProEcuador, entity attached to the Vice Ministry of Promotion of Exports and Investments.
One of the last events was the Multisectorial Trade Mission Chile 2019 at the beginning of this month, within the framework of a binational cabinet. The mission included meetings with Chilean institutions, such as the Production Development Corporation, the Manufacturing Development Society, and a business round of Ecuadorian exporters with Chilean companies.
Danilo Subía, deputy vice minister of Promotion, indicated that last year the business expectations in these events (fairs, missions and business rounds) exceeded $ 500 million, of which, according to figures from the government entity, $ 259 was made, 6 millions.
Subía pointed out that about $ 2 million was invested in the last 3 years for commercial promotion, an average of $ 660,000 per year. However, the funds to subsidize the participation of companies in these events was affected.
This, for example, was reflected last January when the Colombiatex de las Américas fair, in Medellín, Colombia, where normally the presence of Ecuadorian companies bordered the 11 firms in 2017 and 2018, led and subsidized by ProEcuador, dropped to only one in the last edition.
One of the reasons, according to Subía, is the economic situation of the country, so they have sought support in the private sector to maintain the presence
“To sustain the level of promotion, we have tried to work with the private sector under the figure of co-payment, alliances and international cooperation so that our promotional actions are not diminished,” he explained.
Eduardo Egas, executive president of the Corporation for Promotion of Exports and Investments (Corpei), which from 1998 to 2010 was the official promotion agency of Ecuador, recalled that an average budget of between $ 7 and $ 8 million per year was being managed.
He added that ProEcuador, which was created in 2011, handled a higher budget; for those who carried “the bulk” in the participations, where, however, they have worked together with Corpei several times.
The tendency in this last year is that this availability of resources by the State has been decreasing due to the narrowness of the fiscal fund and therefore the participation in fairs has been reduced “, Eduardo Egas, Corpei’s CEO.
However, he highlighted the injection of the private sector that increased its budget this year by about 40% compared to 2018, when they attended four trade fairs, two to Germany, one to Russia and another to France, where they took 22 Business.
In addition, with the support of the European Union (EU), through the Export-DES (Export for Development) program, they assisted seven more with 20 companies; In addition to carrying other 13 to three missions to Germany, Spain and Holland.
According to Corpei, in 2018 own funds were used for promotions for $ 406,561; and $ 315,406 with EU funds. For this year it is projected to invest $ 953,731 on the part of the Corporation; and $ 345,594 of funds from the EU to attend more than 20 events.
Meanwhile, ProEcuador plans to attend 45 fairs and 12 commercial missions, in alliance with chambers and business associations. (I)
Source: https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/2019/04/25/nota/7301063/alianzas-suplen-recursos-ferias
