Beautiful Colombian Blooms Showcased in Vancouver

Proexport Colombia and the Colombian Association of Flower Exporters (Asocolflores) to organize a Flower Showroom in Vancouver on May 15 - 16, 2014.

TORONTO, May 14, 2014 /CNW/ - (PXP) – Proexport Colombia and the Colombian Association of Flower Exporters (Asocolflores) will organize a Flower Showroom in Vancouver on May 15 - 16, 2014, at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown, Proexport Colombia announced today. The event is designed to highlight the 1,500 different species of blooms that come from Colombia.

Colombia is the second largest exporter of flowers in the world, distributing more than US$1 billion each year. Over half of all fresh flowers imported to Canada come from Colombia. In 2013 alone, Canada imported US$79 million worth of Colombian flowers. Colombian fresh flower exports to Canada have increased by 34.9 percent since the implementation of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement three years ago.

"The Colombian market has a vast amount of opportunities in business and travel," said Maria Claudia Lacouture, the president of Proexport Colombia, the government agency in charge of trade, tourism and investment to the country. "The flower industry highlights the value and growth potential of the commercial relationship between Canada and Colombia."

Colombia has been exporting flowers for the past 40 years and dedicates more than 7,200 hectares to growing these blooms. The country's unique sunlight, humidity, temperature and soil fertility allow for the largest variety of exotic flowers in the world. These incredible and notably resilient blooms have won numerous international awards and are the country's top non-traditional agricultural export.

Colombia is Canada's largest rose supplier, providing 50 percent of all roses. The country is also practically the sole provider of carnations and Chrysanthemums: over 90 percent of these flowers found in Canada come directly from Colombia. Other varieties imported from the country include miniature carnations, alstroemerias, heliconias, hydrangeas and lilies.

The Flower Showroom in Vancouver will highlight Colombian flowers brought by 12 top-ranked suppliers. Proexport is a Colombian agency in charge of non-traditional export development, investment and tourism promotion. For this particular event, it has partnered with Asocolflores in order to promote and strengthen existing partnerships with Canadian businesses looking to join Colombia's booming flower-exporting sector.

CONTACT: Ola Beilock, 212-880-5235, [email protected]

SOURCE: Proexport Colombia