Introduction

In Latin America, Colombia is one of the leading economic nations. In the past, the beauty of this country was often overshadowed by internal armed conflict, high crime rates, and nepotism. However, after the “apertura” (Spanish for economic opening) in 1990 and the improvement in Colombia’s security situation, the country has increasingly attracted foreign entrepreneurs and companies. This is due to its vast wealth of resources, advantageous geographical location in the heart of the Americas, favorable climate, and numerous trade routes for export and import. Nevertheless, intercultural differences often lead to disputes between Colombian and foreign companies, resulting in failed projects in or between the respective countries (e.g., Cocoa instead of Cocaine” by the Zotter company in 2010). For this reason, the primary goal of this journey was to establish a company that, through intercultural know-how and expertise, could support Austrian companies’ projects in Colombia and ensure their successful realization in the future without difficulties arising from cultural differences.

This market exploration trip was entirely privately funded and commenced in 2012 with the purchase of 10 Energetica off-grid solutions, which were subsequently shipped to Colombia between January and March 2012. The proceeds from their sale financed additional market exploration trips.

Market Exploration Trip on the Occasion of the Visit of Austrian President Dr. Heinz Fischer (March 3–5, 2016)

The participant list and the full program of the market exploration trip from March 3–5, 2016, are included in the appendix.

• Arrival of the Austrian President and Official Economic Delegation in Bogotá, followed by a briefing by Ambassador Dr. Andreas Rendl at the Marriott Hotel.

Afterward, individual B2B meetings took place. Each company had the opportunity to present itself, network with other companies, and find potential partners or buyers.

In the afternoon, President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón hosted a joint lunch at the Presidential Palace.

The day concluded with a farewell dinner with Austrian President Dr. Heinz Fischer at the restaurant Andrés Carne de Res.

Participation in the Congreso Internacional Disposición Final de Residuos y Perspectivas Ambientales

At the Congreso Internacional Disposición Final de Residuos y Perspectivas Ambientales, the Austrian company Entec was represented. Several Austrian companies were present at the Advantage Austria stand. The representation of Entec was carried out by Máximo Jiménez Pérez, Celina Dugulin, and Antonio Díaz González.