Date: 2001-2005

Garnering nearly $1 million in sales by attending BIOFACH 2004 in Germany, El Salvadoran companies hope to duplicate their success by attending Natural Products Expo East, the world’s largest natural products trade fair, at the Washington, DC Convention Center, October 14-17, 2004. Since January 2004, EXPRO, a USAID-funded project managed by Nathan Associates, has been introducing Salvadoran companies to buyers and distributors around the world at more than a dozen trade fairs.

The project, which began in 2003, is helping Salvadoran companies increase exports of multiple products¾from pharmaceuticals, handicrafts, and furniture to cosmetics, household items, and agricultural products. So far, Nathan consultants have helped more than 400 small and medium enterprises, 152 of which have exported various products valued at $11.8 million.

Fifteen Salvadoran companies will exhibit at Natural Products Expo East, selling organic products such as estate coffee, cashews, natural body care products, and pet care products, as well as tea, honey, vitamins, and herbs. The companies are seeking East Coast distributors and to learn about buyer preferences in one of the world’s most lucrative markets for organic products. U.S. sales of natural and organic product sales topped $42 billion last year with the highest gains in organic personal care (up 81 percent) and organic pet care (up 31 percent), two products Salvadoran companies will showcase at the fair.

Before year’s end USAID EXPRO will sponsor companies at trade fairs in Los Angeles (food products), Holland (flowers and plants), and Italy (specialty coffees). The goal: $7 million in new exports generated by Salvadoran companies by the project’s fifth quarter.

For more information on the project and Salvadoran companies visit the EXPRO project website.