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Dependence on large producers is dangerous

 The industry in Latin America has understood that depending on large and distant global producers is not a safe option and that it is important to develop regional trade. It is IMPORTANT and STRATEGIC to have regional production poles in Latin America such as Mexico, Colombia, Central America and the Caribbean and thus generate jobs, added value and wealth.

Bogota, November 12, 2021 - The annual Servicios al usuario Report released in August by ECLAC (Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean), states that the region will grow 5.9% in 2021. For this growth to be sustainable, ECLAC proposes channeling investment towards sectors that promote a new style of development and that can boost competitiveness and employment, such as industry.

"In Latin America we have understood that depending on large producers such as China, located far from our consumption zone, is costly and even dangerous. In this sense, the trend is to develop closer and regional poles with the power to mass produce, with quality and good prices as could be Mexico, Central American countries (Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama, Costa Rica), Colombia or the Caribbean (Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago)." said Medardo D'Ambrosio, General Director of Projects and Sales of OMEGA Packing, a leading company in process and packaging equipment consulting for mass consumption (food, beverages, canned food, etc.) in Latin America, during the Andina Pack 2021 fair that takes place in Bogota, from November 9 to 12, 2021. OMEGA Packing participates in Andina Pack 2021.

D'Ambrosio indicates that the region must bet and invest in having more industrial autonomy and give added value to its national and export raw material. It is the only way to work to produce better products at more competitive prices. "Imports and the issue of freight is, and more and more every day, confusing and problematic. Latin America must strive not only to be a supplier of raw materials, it must provide added value to generate more jobs, more wealth and growth. This would even avoid the problems of migration with all its harmful collateral effects such as the violation of human rights, exploitation and the growth of organized crime.

He pointed out that Mexico is emerging as the spearhead in Latin America in terms of establishing a regional industrial hub. "Mexico has been working to establish increasingly competitive production prices and has been achieving this, in many areas it is even cheaper than making products in China. This is the way forward for industries in the region, such as Colombia, Central America and the Caribbean. At OMEGA, we are convinced that this is the way forward and we are ready to support all those who want to produce more and better," he added.

 "Latin America needs to improve the quality of its exports to provide added value, integrate into global value chains and foster long-term economic growth. There is a general consensus in the region that growth cannot be sustained indefinitely at the expense of the exploitation of raw materials, and that it is necessary to have strong productive sectors and a solid business fabric to ensure sustainable economic development that includes the vast majority of citizens," states the Andean Development Corporation, CAF, on its web page www.caf.com.

In Colombia, for example, the Companies of Exporting Excellence Program, 3E Program, is being implemented, which according to CAF is an important effort that Latin America is carrying out to increase productivity and be able to compete with guarantees at a global level, linking the public and private sectors, academia and entities that promote industrial development and foreign trade to generate innovative business models that allow companies in the region to improve their competitiveness in international markets.

In this vein, D'Ambrosio said that the issue of value added is important because Latin American industry has the capacity to be a generator of wealth. "This is a way to create more jobs and a better quality of life, an aspect that would improve the issue of migration in the region, because people would not have to leave their country in search of better opportunities. OMEGA Packing is concerned about this situation and can support those who want to produce more and better," he said.

OMEGA Packing is presenting its latest-generation equipment at Andina Pack, together with the largest manufacturers and their representatives: Cristian Piccinini from P.E. Labellers, Giuseppe Stefani from Bertolaso, Michele Bevilacqua from Bortolin Kemo, Massimo Navatta from Navatta, Roberto Campagnini from Baumer, Marco Motta from Zacmi and Héctor Hernández from UBS, all of them gathered for the first time in a great scenario such as this fair.   

Andina Pack 2021 is a biennial international exhibition of products, equipment and systems associated with packaging, packing, packaging and cutting-edge technologies for the food and beverage processing, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and personal care and agribusiness industries. It is the region's most important trade fair focused on production, processing, packaging and handling technologies for food and beverage, as well as pharmaceutical products, and brings together experts from manufacturing and packaging industries for the food and beverage sectors, as well as all types of processing and packaging technologies in two main industries: food and beverage, pharmaceutical and cosmetics.