Peru was invited to participate in the Thessaloniki International Fair 2025.
The countries of the Balkan Peninsula, especially Greece, offer a new window of opportunity for Peruvian exporters, who are seeking to diversify their products and markets, said the president of the Association of Exporters (Adex), Julio Pérez Alván.
During his visit to Greece to visit the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), he revealed that the organizers invited Peru and the other members of the Andean Community (Colombia and Ecuador) to be the 'featured countries' in the 2025 edition.
The president of Adex pointed out that the TIF selects a country each year, assigns it a special pavilion and proposes holding several events in coordination with the organization of the fair. In 2024, it was Germany, which brought together more than 100 companies, including SMEs, consultancies and large companies such as Siemens and Fraport, which showcased their range of technology, services and manufactured goods.
"If Peru were to participate next year, not only would cultural and political ties with Greece and the Balkan countries be strengthened, but new trade opportunities would also be explored with other economies of the European Union," he said.
Julio Pérez Alván said that this region of the world is presented as an attractive destination to continue positioning the Peruvian offer, which is why he urged companies to participate in this fair.
In this regard, he expressed his hope that state institutions specializing in promoting image, trade and international relations (Mincetur, Promperú and Foreign Relations) will join in to show the enormous quality of the national offer.
"The aim will be to promote the benefits of our products, promote exports and attract tourists. Greece and Peru share a rich history and a vibrant gastronomy, facilitating a cultural and commercial rapprochement between the two countries," he said.
TIF has a history of almost 100 years and attracts multi-sector representatives and entrepreneurs from all over the world. It is the largest event of its kind in Greece, with an attendance of over 200 thousand people and over 1500 exhibitors from 19 countries.
In 2023, trade between Peru and the Balkan countries (Greece, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia and others) exceeded US$ 837 million.
According to the 'Peru-Greece bilateral trade profile' of the CIEN-Adex Global Economics and Business Research Center, exports to Greece (US$ 10.8 million between January and July 2024) increased by 103% compared to the same period in 2023 (US$ 5.3 million). This was due to the good performance of traditional agriculture and agribusiness, with increases of 369.2% and 136%, respectively.
Imports from Greece totalled US$ 11.7 million, representing a drop of -26.4%. Peach preserves led the ranking (US$ 3.8 million), followed by beauty and skin care products.
In order to boost bilateral trade with Greece, last April the Association of Exporters signed a memorandum of understanding with Helexpo, the organisation that organises congresses and cultural events in that European country.
