BTM 2019 has become the most important business conference in the region

• 85% of the Costa Rican companies participating are either exporting SMEs or have export potential
• This event will receive international buyers from 39 different countries

This morning, the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER) inaugurated the Buyer Trade Mission (BTM); a large-scale business conference that, after 21 editions, has managed to consolidate itself as the most important meeting in the region. The event is scheduled to run through September 19, at the Costa Rica Convention Center, and boasts the participation of over 600 Costa Rican companies and approximately 300 international buyers.

This year’s inauguration of the BTM was attended by Dyalá Jiménez Figueres, Minister of Foreign Trade (COMEX) and President of the Board of Directors of PROCOMER, André Garnier Kruse, Private Sector Liaison Minister and PROCOMER’s General Manager, Pedro Beirute Prada.

“More than 300 international buyers believe that Costa Rica is a small country with a huge vision; a potential business ally capable of providing its markets with quality products of high added value and a firm commitment to sustainability. Thanks to the BTM, Costa Rican companies can travel the world in two days, some positioning themselves as part of the Costa Rican export offer for the first time,” said the Minister of Foreign Trade.

According to Minister Jiménez, the BTM is one of the tools that the foreign trade sector has to contribute to the country’s growth by facilitating the exportable development of small and medium-sized companies both within and outside the greater metropolitan area.

Along these lines, Pedro Beirute Prada, General Manager at PROCOMER highlighted the BTM as a comprehensive promotional tool that promotes capacity building for internationalization while providing updates on global trends, networking and business meetings in order to create a robust exportable offer that stands out in international markets due to values such as innovation, excellence and sustainability.

“Representatives from 39 countries will join us over the next two days to experience what Costa Rica has to offer thanks to the efforts of more than 600 Costa Rican companies that will participate in the business conference, 200 of which are first time participants in a business event of this magnitude and 150 companies that are located outside the greater metropolitan area, clearly demonstrating that our internationalization potential can be found across the country. It is with great pride that we welcome both repeat buyers as well as new participants from places like Jordan, Portugal, Japan, Russia and Palestine, to an event that brings together the best of Costa Rica has to offer – talent, culture and commitment,” added Beirute.

In addition to the business matchmaking forum, with some 5,000 scheduled appointments, the 2-day program includes a forum to create value added chains, an investors conference, product displays and the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding.

The BTM in numbers

•        300 international buyers

o 35 countries represented

o  5 new countries: Jordan, Palestine, Russia, Portugal and Japan

•        600+ Costa Rican companies

o  150 regional companies (located outside of the greater metropolitan area) o 200 new exporters o    85% of which are SMEs

•        Over 5,000 scheduled business appointments