According to the latest statistics of ProChile’s Business Intelligence, based on data from the Central Bank of Chile, Chilean food exports to Panama have grown by 70%, as exports went from B/ 30 million in 2010 to B/ 51 million by December 2014.

This and other useful information was given by the gourmetmission held by ProChile in Panama, which is using innovative tools and strategies to promote and support small and medium enterprises in Chile.

“The goal of this highly avant-garde trade missions is to present these kind of products to potential markets that are interested in learning more about our offer. In this occasion we are presenting six companies from the gourmet sector, which we are sure will please the Panamanian palate,” said Catalina Ocampo, Commercial Director of ProChile in Panama.

One of the main objectives of this mission is to enhance the Chilean gourmet product offer, which by definition has a low volume and no export barriers. “They are what, in international marketing, is known as the Dely channel, which is growing significantly in Panama,” said Ocampo.

To stress the importance of the activities organized by Chile, the prestigious Chilean chef, who has been internationally certified by the Culinary Academy of France, Luciano Gomez Quiñelen, arrived in Panama on Tuesday. Gomez Quiñelen is a connoisseur with extensive experience in Latin American cuisine, from countries such as Peru, Colombia, Mexico and Panama. He is also the director and owner of the Culinaria Studio Aficionado Cooking School  in Villavicencio, Colombia.

On Thursday August 27, ProChile held a Pairing Dinner entitled “Authentic Chilean Flavors” at the Hard Rock Hotel

The participating companies are Volcano Costa Productos y Servicios Ltda, Comercial Trufas Ltda, Picker’s Alimentos Ltda, Alimentos Saludables e Innovadores, Victor Claudio Villegas y Hugo Roggendorf and Co. Ltda. Within this offer, the companies of functional foods made in a comprehensive health process stood out, such as the production of white and black truffles, products for people with dietary restrictions, jams and natural-based products made out of berries, among others. They are products that might be unknown to the Panamanian consumer, but that have attractive flavors and potential for the region.

Between Friday August 28th and Sunday the 30th, ProChile had a booth at the Panama Gourmet Fair at the same time it had its gourmetmission. In this booth, the companies provided all the necessary information about the benefits of their products with a highly healthy and sustainable orientation.

Comparing the first half of last year to the first half of this year, we can say that Chilean exports to Panama grew by 5%, going from B / 22.5 million in June 2014 to B / 23.6 in June 2015.

In 2014, the Chilean product categories that were exported the most to Panama were: salmon and trout, packaged red wine, canned apples, fruit pulp, fruit and vegetables pastes, grapes, flour, starches, cereal products, and white wine, among others.

The quality of the food supply produced in Chile has achieved remarkable recognition according to the latest Global Food Security Index 2015 prepared by The Economist Intelligence Unit, which ranked the country as a leader in Latin America.

The gourmet products are generally defined as those that exhibit a high quality, sometimes exotic, unique feature. They are often produced in small quantities by an almost artisanal process and they are developed for a segment or niche of consumers attracted by the quality and exclusivity of the product.

Usually, these gourmet products have an exotic element added to them, and they cover a wide variety of foods, such as cheeses, meats, chocolates, breads, crackers, dried fruits, oils, vinegars, jams, etc.

Chile is a major player in the global food industry. It is a reliable supplier of safe and healthy foods that meets the high standards that the international markets demand.

Foods from Chile is the new work line for the international promotion of the Chilean food sector, which highlights the transversal characteristics of Chile’s production. This concept of origin highlights five characteristic attributes of the Chilean industry: quality, safety, traceability, international security, and flavor.

With this initiative, Chile expects to bring its food closer to the local cuisine. The natural barriers that isolate Chile from health the health risks of food production are the desert in the north, the Andes mountains to the east, the Pacific Ocean in the west, and the Antarctic ice in the south. Weather conditions are also surprising: Chile has more than twenty different climates. Another great characteristic of Chile is that its people represent the ancestral wisdom that comes from indigenous peoples and that over the years has led them to love their land, their products, the new production processes, and the incorporation of innovative technology and trends.

Source: panamaon.com