45 companies from Germany, Chile, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Sweden and Uruguay gathered for the Expobioenergía’09 Workshop
The business round included 280 meetings, 223 arranged beforehand and 57 which were organised on the spur of the momentThe 3rd edition of the Active Bioenergy Workshop with companies from Latin America and Europe registered 280 business meetings held amongst 24 companies from Latin America and 21 from Europe. We are still waiting for the final figures from some of the companies that attended, nevertheless an initial conservative provisional estimate made by organisers indicates that during the business round of Expobioenergía’09 contracts with a value of just over 1,000,000 euros were concluded.
The presence of Chile as a guest country during the 3rd edition of the Workshop gave considerable impetus to the bioenergy sector in the country. Although large Chilean companies were already consolidated, it is now small and medium-sized companies that are assuming a leading role to launch themselves for once and for all in the bioenergy sector which has significantly grown in this country over the last two years.
Expobioenergía enjoys close ties with Chile
With the intention of consolidating and intensifying the business links started in Chile, the Director of Expobioenergía, Jorge Herrero, participated in ExpoCorma (In Concepción. 11-14 November), invited by some of the companies participating in the Expobioenergía’09 Workshop: Papelera Norske Skog Bio Bio, Ecralsur, Energía Verde, John O’Ryan Surveyors, Bossur, Coala Industrial, Sistema de Certificación de la Leña (Chile) and Platero Energía (Uruguay). The task of the fair director, in addition to “promoting bioenergy”, was focused on “exploring the new opportunities” offered by the Chilean market.
The strength detected by the Chileans with regard to Spanish companies fundamentally resides in the perception that “the Spanish sector is prepared to show the Chileans the technology and even to collaborate in many of the projects planned in this country”. This assessment is based on another essential advantage for investors looking for “Spanish technologists” with whom there is “cultural understanding and fluent communication” at all levels, Jorge Herrero explains when analysing the suggestions he received during his participation in ExpoCorma.
However, Chilean prospects in bioenergy are also subject to weaknesses. The involvement of a large number of entities in the sector does not necessarily translate into efficient actions. Indeed, the most committed entities work unilaterally promoting small initiatives when what the sector requires is a strong, global and joint initiative.
Nevertheless, all agree that participation in Expobioenergía of a large group of Chilean companies has created “the kind of associationism”, a “common” awareness in the business environment that will steer a renewed direction in the bioenergy sector in this country.
Source: Expobioenergía