Colombia to kick off 2014 with 32,000 fashion industry representatives at the 26th annual Colombiatex trade show

This year's theme focuses on how the fashion industry can "transcend boundaries" in new and creative ways

MIAMI, Jan. 14, 2014 /CNW/ - (PXP) -- Colombia will welcome more than 32,000 international fashion professionals to the 26^th annual Colombiatex trade show in Medellin, January 21-23, 2014. Working with Inexmoda, the institute for exports and fashion, Proexport Colombia will assist international exporters and buyers in finding the right partners for their business needs.

"The Colombian apparel industry not only offers high quality products, but is also a business-friendly environment that is ideal for international companies," said Maria Claudia Lacouture, president of Proexport, the Colombian government agency charged with promoting trade, investment and tourism. "Events such as Colombiatex allow our products to gain more international visibility, leading to more business with trade partners and the countries of the Pacific Alliance."

Proexport works closely with the Pacific Alliance, a political, economic and cooperative agreement established to foster growth, development and competitiveness for its member nations of Chile, Colombia, Peru and Mexico. The goals of Proexport and the Pacific Alliance fit in with this year's Colombiatex theme of "Transcending boundaries." With this in mind, Colombian exporters – from fiber distributors to designers, textile manufacturers to leather suppliers – will connect with companies from around the world to promote their products.

Colombia has more than 450 textile manufacturers and around 10,000 garment production units and is considered to have the third largest textile industry in Latin America. Colombian companies and designers produce raw textiles, equipment and finished products, from couture lines and lingerie to school uniforms and accessories. The country's 13 international free trade agreements have contributed to a growing demand for textiles over the past 10 years, with major foreign companies from the U.K. to the U.S. investing in the sector. In the last decade, the Colombian textile industry has grown at a rate of 8.4 percent per year.

Colombiatex is the largest business platform for fashion in Latin America. Around 1,750 international buyers from 28 countries are expected to attend the tradeshow in Plaza Mayor Medellin. In addition, there will be 500 exhibitors from around the world and 8,400 from within Colombia.

For more information, please visit www.proexport.com.co/en, www.colombiatex.com and prensa.inexmoda.org.co.

SOURCE: Proexport Colombia

Marissa Lyman, 212-880-5352, [email protected]

http://www.proexport.com.co/en