Colombia Apparel Import and Export Opportunities Expand to New Levels
The promotional export arm of the Colombian government is setting up matchmaking meetings between Colombian apparel makers and U.S. companies looking for new sourcing opportunities.The meetings are taking place Nov. 8–9 at The Langham Huntington hotel in Pasadena, Calif.
Proexport Colombia is promoting its apparel, agricultural and manufacturing industries now that there is a free-trade agreement between the two countries that took effect May 15.
María Claudia Lacouture, president of Proexport Colombia, said there are many opportunities in the United States for manufacturers of underwear, swimming suits and athletic wear.
In 2011, the United States imported $263.5 million in apparel and textiles from Colombia, down nearly 10 percent compared with $291.8 million in 2010.The United States exported $165.2 million in apparel and textiles to Colombia in 2011, up 33 percent compared with $123.7 million in 2010. Most of those exports were in textiles rather than apparel.
In addition to the matchmaking sessions, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) is presenting a free webinar at 8 a.m. (PST) on Nov. 15 about export opportunities to Colombia under the free-trade pact. The webinar will be recorded and stored on OTEXA’s website. Topics of discussion include information on the Colombia market, an overview of the free-trade agreement, discussion of the applicable rules of origin for textile and apparel products, and a preview of the upcoming U.S. Sample Pavilion at the Colombiatex show in January 2013. There will be a question-and-answer period afterward.
To register, go to the OTEXA site at http://otexa.ita.doc.gov.
—Deborah Belgum
