COFOCE promotes SMEs; the inclusion of these companies has been at the heart of the growth of exports Guanajuato businesspeople share their e
COFOCE promotes SMEs; the inclusion of these companies has been at the heart of the growth of exports
Guanajuato businesspeople share their experience participating in FOODEX in Japan
Leon/Gto News
From January to December 2024, Guanajuato recorded exports totaling $36.315 billion, representing an 8.78% increase compared to the same period last year. This result reflects the dynamism of the 1,959 exporting companies that currently project the State to more than 135 international destinations.
The driving force behind this growth is concentrated primarily in five municipalities that lead the list of exporters in Guanajuato:
- Silao: 17,858 million dollars – 44.6 percent
- Celaya: 5,511 million dollars – 13.8 percent
- Apaseo el Grande: 4,326 million dollars – 10.8 percent
- Salamanca: 3,758 million dollars – 9.4 percent
- Irapuato: 2,413 million dollars – 6.0 percent
SMEs are the heart of growth
In the first half of the year, 371 companies of the type SMEs have been served resulting in more than 6,300 Guanajuatense families benefited.
“We don’t just want to talk about the numbers which are important, but we want to touch on the personal issue, the human issue, in this Government of the People, which is what we are most seeking, and what our Governor, Libia Dennise Garcia Munoz Ledo has asked us to do, is how we are impacting the quality of life of so many families. Here we are seeing that the impact is on 6,300 families,” said Luis Rojas Avila, Director of COFOCE.
The push for MSMEs has been key to this progress; the inclusion of these companies has been at the heart of export growth. Of those companies served, 68 are companies with which we have worked for the first time.
The “Foreign Trade to Transform Communities” program has brought Export Days to 26 municipalities outside the industrial corridor, promoting equitable economic development, strengthening the local business community, and fostering self-employment.
These workshops have trained more than 1,000 people, empowering entrepreneurs with practical tools in exports, logistics, and international treaties. Municipalities such as Dolores Hidalgo, San Francisco del Rincon, Purisima del Rincon, and San Jose Iturbide have already participated in this initiative.
Thanks to the strategies of linking and attracting buyers, these have been the results:
- +1,000 people trained in key topics
- +100 local companies have been connected to international markets
- +30 buyers have shown direct interest
- A sales projection of 1.3 million dollars in the medium term and 500 million dollars in the long term is projected
From March 11 to 14, Guanajuato had a strategic participation in Foodex Japan , through its own pavilion at Tokyo Big Sight. Fourteen Guanajuato companies exhibited fresh, frozen, and processed products, as well as spirits.
Expected results:
- Short term: $1.5 million
- Medium term: $2.73 million
- Long term: $3.5 million
“We are a company with more than 14 years of experience in agro-foods, however, approximately three years ago, we began to develop innovative products and we arrived at freeze-dried products, we offered (at FOODEX) a line of sauces and guacamole that has no additives, no preservatives, 100 percent natural, does not require a cold chain, is light and can last up to two years, we received the invitation from COFOCE to participate in FOODEX, we saw it as a great opportunity, they took us by the hand from the beginning until the moment we were at the stand, it was 4 days of a lot of promotion, the products as well as the three companies were a success, in particular and with great pleasure I tell you, Luis, that yesterday at 7 in the evening we closed our first order, it is something for us who already know the Japanese culture, it is very impressive”, said Daniel Rojas Morales of CornerStone Foods, one of the business owners supported by the People’s Government through COFOCE, the Rural Secretary, and the Secretary of Economy.
“Participating in a fair like FOODEX and international fairs opens you up to a wide range of knowledge. Why? Because first, to participate in an international fair, we have to learn where we’re going to sell. Often, as business owners, we don’t understand this and want to leave it to the national and international support agencies and institutions. Really, we, as companies, have to do the work; we have to research the market we’re targeting,” said Miguel Rodriguez, of the tequila company Hermanos de Sangre, that also participated in FOODEX.
The Government of the People, through COFOCE -the only national organization dedicated exclusively to promote exports- leads strategic projects for the economic development of Guanajuato, and promotes a constant, equitable growth with a deep social sense, as instructed by the vision of Governor Libia Dennise Garcia Munoz Ledo.
If you want to take your products abroad, find out how COFOCE can help you open the doors to the international market.
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