68�SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2025�ABASTO.COM The Results of the Event According to ProColombia, the export segment of the Business Meetings Forum generated business expec- tations of US$237.6 mi- llion, thanks to more than 8,000 meetings between 1,120 Colombian compa- nies and 422 international buyers. Te agri-food sector led commercial activity, with expectations of US$140.9 million. By company size, micro and small companies ge- nerated expectations of around US$57 million and US$61 million, respectively, while medium-sized com- panies reached US$66.1 mi- llion and large companies US$53.1 million. ProColombia highlighted the inclusive approach of the event: 691 companies led by women, 49 by people of African descent, 34 by farmers, and 27 by victims of the armed confict. Tis social approach demons- trates how internationa- lization can also generate equity and development in the country. Te North American re- gion (United States, Ca- nada, and the Caribbean) accounted for 41% of total buyers, while Latin Ameri- ca contributed 34%. In ad- dition, delegations arrived from countries such as Fin- land, Croatia, Haiti, and the Cayman Islands. The Colombian Pacific as a Driver of Foreign Trade Te location of the event was not chosen at random. Valle del Cauca, host of the Business Meetings Forum, is a key player in the coun- try’s trade strategy. Governor Dilian Francis- ca Toro, in a conversation with Abasto magazine, sta- ted that the department of Valle del Cauca has a multi- modal logistics system that connects Colombia with the Pacifc and is home to more than 200 foreign compa- nies. Tis positioning makes Cali an ideal entry point for the country to conquer the markets of the Pacifc basin, reinforcing its regional lea- dership. Cali, Host City and Promoter of Employment In turn, the mayor of Cali, Alejandro Eder, told Abas- to magazine that the city is committed to becoming a center of innovation and opportunity. “We have achieved the lowest unemployment rate in 19 years, and the Business Meetings Forum contributes to continuing to attract in- vestment and generate stra- tegic alliances,” he said. Solutions Block: Advice to Boost Business In parallel with the busi- ness meetings, the Business Meetings Forum ofered the Solutions Block, a spa- ce with 22 national and in- ternational entities—such as ICA, DIAN, INVIMA, FDA, and Bancóldex—that provided direct advice on foreign trade, health, and fnancing. For her part, María del Mar Palau, president of the Cali Chamber of Commerce, told Abasto that more than 120 companies from the Valley received specialized support on topics such as commercial pitching, inter- national pricing, and iden- tifying potential markets. Continues on page 66... Colombia, a Country of Beauty and Opportunity In short, the Business Meetings Forum not only boosted trade. It also reafrmed Co- lombia’s potential to lead in exports, tou- rism, and investment from a regional, inclu- sive, and sustainable perspective. Thanks to its integra- tion of sectors, business diversity, and interna- tional reach, this event consolidates Colombia as a competitive player in global markets. And Cali, in the southwes- tern part of the country, is emerging as the epi- center of economic and commercial develop- ment for the future. María del Mar Palau: Presidente de la Cámara de Comercio de Cali, Dilian Francisca Toro: Gobernadora del Valle del Cauca ,Alejandro Eder: Alcal- de de Santiago de Cali y Carmen Caballero: Presidente de ProColombia Mabel Lara: Secretaria de Desarro- llo Económico y Turismo de Cali Daniel Medina: Subsecretario, Gobernación De Valle Del Cauca