Following the USDA’s recent trade mission to India, the agency is now accepting applications from ag producers and business leaders for their next agribusiness trade mission to Bogotá, Colombia, Aug. 13-15, 2024.
Colombia is the largest South American market for U.S. ag products and the seventh-largest market for U.S. food and beverage exports globally. Since the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement was implemented in 2012, U.S. agricultural exports to Colombia have grown 237 percent, reaching a record $3.7 billion in 2023.
Changes in Colombians’ lifestyles – including increasingly common dual-income households, interest in healthier foods, and demand for packaged and prepared food products – bode well for U.S. exports. Furthermore, formal retail establishments, including supermarkets and mid-sized grocery stores, now account for 60 percent of food distribution nationwide.
While in Bogotá, U.S. agribusiness representatives will meet with potential importers from across Colombia, and FAS staff and local/regional industry trade experts will provide detailed market briefings. The mission will also include engagements with USDA leadership, site visits in Bogotá and the surrounding area, and multiple networking opportunities.
Colombia’s modern retail sector presents newfound opportunities for a diverse range of U.S. exports, including:
- healthy foods (low-sodium, low-sugar, low-fat)
- fresh fruit
- dog and cat food
- distilled spirits and wine
- meat and meat products (beef, pork, and poultry)
- processed vegetables
- beans
- seafood
- dairy products
- food preparations
- snack foods
- cereals
- tree nuts
- condiments and sauces
- food and baking ingredients
- feed ingredients
The trade mission will be led by Alexis Taylor, USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.
“Colombia represents a top-tier food and agricultural export destination for American farmers, ranchers and processors,” said Taylor. “As the second-most-populous country in South America, Colombia enjoys highly favorable demographics, coupled with 20 years of continuous economic growth, which saw a 36-percent increase in the median household income. USDA is committed to supporting and facilitating agricultural trade between suppliers and buyers throughout the Western Hemisphere, including Colombia.”
For consideration to participate in the trade mission, please complete the online application here by May 3.
More information about USDA trade missions can be found on the FAS website.
Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service