Russia, Australia, United States, Saudi Arabia-Qatar, Mexico and Turkey are the strategic markets to whom the virtual trade missions that jointly organize SODERCAN and the Chamber of Commerce to promote the exploration of new markets by SMEs in Cantabria.
A visit to the ANUGA fair in Germany, aimed at the agri-food sector, as long as circumstances allow.
This is stated in the collaboration agreement of promotion of internationalization that have just been signed by the Minister of Industry, Tourism, Innovation, Transport of the Government of Cantabria, Javier López Marcanor, and the president of the chamber institution, Modesto Piñeiro, which finances SODERCAN with 100,000 euros.
The Minister of Industry explains that for the selection of strategic markets, SODERCAN part of an analysis of export data, which shows that Cantabria maintains an excessive share of concentration in European countries (76%), five percentage points above the Spanish average, while it is expected that 90% of world growth will originate, for the most part, in the so-called “new emerging countries” .
Lopez Marcano He adds that, in principle, the format of these actions will be virtual, although “we do not rule out any mixed or face-to-face action at the end of the year” if the progress of the pandemic and vaccination in both countries allows it.
The director and president of SODERCAN stresses that in this context of mobility restrictions, it is very important that companies continue to establish contact with potential clients and prospect for new markets, which is why it encourages Cantabrian SMEs to participate in virtual actions promoted by SODERCAN with the support of the Chamber of Commerce and ICEX, which during the pandemic have proven to be a useful tool to open distant markets.
For his part, Modesto Piñeiro points out that for the Chamber it is “an honor to be able to have one more year with this framework agreement, in which we help companies in their internationalization processes”.
“During these turbulent times, the company knows the importance of continuing to strengthen the pillars of international commercial growth, and this agreement greatly helps companies to explore and study, without risk, the opportunity to open new markets,” he explains.
“Robust” Markets
He adds that this year “we will virtually visit such robust countries” as Russia, Australia, United States, Qatar – Arabia, Mexico and Turkey, which already represent a field of opportunity for many of the companies in our region “and we hope they can be so for many others.”
In 2020, 64 Cantabrian companies participated in eight multisectoral virtual trade missions to 11 markets, in which they held almost 300 meetings with potential clients.
For companies that sign up for these online actions to prospect new international markets, a personalized agenda of meetings with potential clients is made to help them find importers, agents or distributors of products or services.
Calendar
The virtual mission calendar starts with Russia from April 26 to 30. Registration can be formalized until March 22.
In summer it will be the turn of Australia; and at the end of September, the beginning of October, the trade mission to U.S; at the end of October the Qatar and Saudi Arabia; Mexico in November; Y Turkey in December.
SODERCAN finances each participating company in Cantabria 70% of the cost of the work schedules, and if required, 70% of the price of the interpreters.
The objective of these actions is to obtain relevant information from the market; meet potential customers and distributors and see business opportunities in the near future.
The director of the New Markets Area of SODERCAN, Raquel Manzanares, he points out that selling is not the priority objective as long as the market knowledge objectives are met and there are a good number of meetings of sufficient quality adapted to the companies.
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