With the participation of more than 150 international buyers from Europe and America, the Ecuadorian Federation of Exporters (Fedexpor) will hold its first virtual food fair Ecuador Food Fair , where they hope that more than 100 Ecuadorian producers can offer their products, establish contacts with new markets and open new destinations for its exportable offer.
Interactive virtual venue for the Ecuador Food Fair
The fair was created through the Internationalize Mipyme program of Fedexpor that has the endorsement of the European Union in Ecuador, and the support of the Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade, Investments and Fisheries ; and ProEcuador .
The participating sectors belong to coffee and processed, cocoa and processed (chocolate), snacks, Andean cereals, fruit pulp and dehydrated fruits, jams and sauces, tea and spices, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, non-traditional fruits, banana and plantain, fishing and aquaculture .
Felipe Ribadeneira, President of Fedexpor , stressed that the fair will become the opportunity for these sectors to solve the problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He added that although all Ecuadorian products were exported during the quarantine, there was an effect especially on the variation in international prices such as cocoa, shrimp, among others; and other sectors such as floriculture due to the fall in international demand.
About the fair, Ribadenerira highlighted the advantages of this new format for companies, especially small and medium, in terms of costs; because he assured that there is a big difference between what should be spent in attending a face-to-face fair and the minimum expenses that a virtual one generates.
Carolina Arcos, commercial coordinator of Fedexpor , pointed out that on average a company invests between $ 20,000 and $ 30,000 in attending an international fair, including tickets, lodging, space rental, stand construction and assembly; among others.
In contrast, in Ecuador Food Fair the cost per participation is $ 390 for large companies and $ 295 for MSMEs (small and medium-sized companies). Arcos highlighted that they already have 44 registered MSMEs and another 23 from the Internacionalízate program .
The directive highlighted the tools that will be used to make the virtual experience enjoyable and comfortable for the participants. In a brief review, she showed the interface that will be used during the event. It is a virtual fairground with various entrances to places of interest such as: exhibitors, lobby, conference room and more. She also presented a model of virtual stands.
For her part, Verónica Chávez, vice minister of Export and Investment Promotion , indicated that the business expectation for this virtual event is $ 5 million . Like Ribadeneira, she pointed out that the fair will serve to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Gabrila Urresta, manager of the Internacionalízate Mipyme program , indicated that until this Thursday there were 75 confirmed exporters at the virtual fair, but they hope to close with more than 100 . The registration of registrations for exporters was scheduled to end this Friday , June 5 , but will run until Monday , June 8 ; while the deadline for international buyers will be until Monday June 12 next.
He added that among the guests will be European supermarket chains that were scheduled to visit in March, during a trade mission that was suspended due to the pandemic.
The fair will last five days, from Monday , June 29 to Friday , July 3, and will be open from 07:00 to 24:00 each day, Ecuador time, said the president of Fedexpor. (I)
