ASEXMA Opens Frontiers For Chile´s Manufactured Exports

Exporting goods with added value has been a challenge for Chile during the last twenty years, but thanks to the existence of the Association of Exporters of Manufactured Goods and Services, ASEXMA Chile A.G., small- and medium-sized companies have been able over time to break through borders, positioning their products in the world's most demanding markets.

ASEXMA has been around for the last twenty three years and includes more than 500 manufacturing and service companies on its books. It focuses on providing the best benefits, services and solutions for the successful export and internationalisation of the businesses of its associate companies. During 2006, exports of manufactured goods totalled US$6.318 billion, an increase of 17% against the previous years. The fastest growing sectors include metal goods, machinery, tools, rubbers and plastics, paper and printing and manufactured wood products.

Chile has signed eighteen trade agreements, covering economies equivalent to 86% of global G.D.P. That means ASEXMA has to be constantly monitoring new business opportunities and contributing to improving the competitiveness of Chilean companies.

Through its international business development unit, the group runs a network of counter-parties abroad and draws up business agendas according to the needs of each client. In 2007, ASEXMA aims to strengthen significantly its commercial and technological missions for member companies and third parties interested in opening new markets or learning about new technologies.

This year, the group plans to realise at least thirteen missions. Last January, a group of eleven businessmen from the food sector flew to the United States to take part in Fancy Food, one of the industry's most important fairs.
March will take us to Cuba and Panama while in April a technological mission will leave for Munich, Germany to visit the Bauma 2007 fair.

ASEXMA also participates and takes a lead in solving member companies problem through the creation of "Market Clubs." These bring together businessmen from different sectors that export to the same country to exchange experiences and problems that they have faced while exporting. These meetings are attended by commercial attaches as well as government authorities with responsibility for foreign trade. In 2006, there were clubs for China, NAFTA, MERCOSUR, Central America and Peru and we expect to open new clubs this year.

Finally, the high quality of service that ASEXMA provides to companies has meant that it has for years been one of the institutions authorised to distribute funds from the economic development agency CORFO. And through its Multiservices unit, the group provides companies with the opportunity to access a wide range of development tools with subsidies in order to increase their competitiveness both in domestic and foreign markets, through the meeting of norms and standards that are today indispensable in exports.

Thus, as well as being a facilitator for companies to add value to their business, Asexma has become a reference point for those who wish to conquer the world with their products.