In the Forum organized by Procolombia, Colombia's state agency responsible for supporting tourism, exports and foreign investments; 50 business people operating in different sectors in Turkey, , met with close to 250 business people from different countries, including 100 from Colombia.

After the presentations of the Investment Office, Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, KOSGEB and Safe-Effective Business Consultancy Company in the opening of the forum, representatives from agricultural activities, chemicals and life sciences, production, Industry 4.0 and clothing and accessories sectors met with the participants in the parallel sessions.

In the afternoon of the first day of the forum, B2Bs began with the opening speech of Mr. Juan Alfredo Pinto Saavedra, Ambassador of the Colombia to Ankara. In his speech, the Ambassador expressed his thanks for KOSGEB’s support.

On the first day of the Forum, more than 1000 B2B meetings were held at 140 tables.

The KOSGEB stand, which remained open during the Forum, attracted great interest from the visitors.

The official delegation of Colombia, consisting of senior executives of the Small and Medium Enterprises Association (ACOPI); Colombian Association of Leather and Shoe Manufacturers (ACICAM); Procolombia; Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism (MINCIT) and the National Apprenticeship Service (SENA) also came to Istanbul to participate in the official program organized by our Presidency after the Forum.

Following the Marmara Teknokent and İTÜ Arı Teknokent visits on 16th October, 2018; , the official delegation which meet the administrators of KOSGEB in an official dinner by KOSGEB on 17th October, 2018; visited the KOSGEB İkitelli Directorate and Shoe Manufacturers Association on 18th October, 2018 after a visit to KOSGEB-supported enterprise.

During the visit to KOSGEB Ikitelli Directorate, detailed information on directorate given to the delegation in presentation and here a meeting with President of Turkey Leather Foundation was held.

In the visit to the Shoe Manufacturers Association, during which the mutual cooperation opportunities discussed, President of ACICAM Mr. Luis Gustavo Flórez Enciso invited the enterprises in Turkey to the International Shoe and Leather Fair which will be held in Bogotá in February 05-07, 2019.