Agritrade 2013, Central America’s leading agribusiness exhibition, conference and networking event, starts today (Thursday 14 March) in Guatemala’s colonial city of La Antigua.
The two-day biennial show aims to provide a platform from which to promote agricultural development and market access for fresh produce suppliers in Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico, with the aim of boosting exports, employment opportunities and economic returns.
The fair will promote the advantages of doing business with the region by highlighting its production, commercial, logistics, geographical, and labour advantages.
After 16 editions, Agritrade’s organiser, the Guatemalan Exporters Association (Agexport), said the fair is increasingly attracting a growing number of buyers and importers from around the world, including Europe and both Latin and North America.
Mónica Figueroa of Agexport told Americafruit that visitor numbers are projected to grow to 4,000 people in 2013, up by a third on the previous 3,500-total.
The organisers are also anticipating some US$35m-worth of business deals to be closed this year on the back of 500 scheduled matchmaking meetings, in comparison to the US$28m accrued from 400 meetings two years ago.
This year’s conference programme features a number of topics influencing the trade of Central American produce to the world.
Top subjects up for discussion by international and national experts include food safety, innovation, product quality, technology and compliance with European Union (EU) regulations.
The full report is published in the February/March issue of Americafruit.
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