Colombia will host the first edition of EXHCO, Expo Horticultura Colombia, in August 2026, an event created with the aim of showcasing the real potential of the country's fruit and vegetable industry and accelerating its integration into international markets. The event will take place from August 26 to 28 at the Las Américas Convention Centre in Cartagena de Indias, bringing together producers, exporters, buyers, technology providers and knowledge in a single venue.
"The fair is emerging at a particularly significant moment for Colombian agriculture. Despite having exceptional natural conditions, a tropical climate without seasons, soil availability and unique biodiversity, the country still plays a limited role in global horticultural trade. This is precisely where the strategic value of EXHCO 2026 lies," explains its general director, Robert Bernal.
Strong potential in international exports
"Colombia has more than 40 million hectares with agricultural potential, of which only around 2.5% are currently cultivated. The country has close to 15 million people directly or indirectly linked to agriculture, representing around 30% of the population, yet the leap into international markets remains limited".
"When it comes to fruit and vegetables, less than 1% of national production is exported, with a number of active exporters that could grow towards the estimated potential, which comfortably exceeds 12,000 operators. In comparative terms, Colombia exports less than 1% of the fruit traded worldwide, compared to countries such as Spain, which despite not producing tropical fruit accounts for around 6% of global trade, or Mexico, which stands at around 5%".
"This gap is not due to a lack of product, but rather to historical shortcomings in the connection between production, technical knowledge, logistics and market access. EXHCO 2026 is being created precisely to bridge that gap".
EXHCO 2026: a meeting point for supply, demand and knowledge
The fair is conceived as a business focused exhibition event, with the expected participation of more than 150 exhibitors and 1,500 professional visitors from over 40 countries. The main focus will be on fresh fruit, vegetables and aromatic plants, segments with strong potential for export growth.
In addition to the exhibition area, EXHCO will feature:
- An academic and technical programme focused on innovation, technology, sustainability and market access.
- Networking spaces designed to facilitate business meetings.
- Translation services, a relatively uncommon feature at regional sector events, aimed at removing language barriers and encouraging international agreements.
The choice of Cartagena also responds to a strategic rationale. The city offers international air connectivity, a well developed hotel infrastructure and an environment that combines tourism appeal with optimal conditions for professional meetings.
A first step with a long term vision
The structure of EXHCO 2026 allows participation to be adapted to different sector profiles. For exhibitors, the fair offers direct visibility to international buyers in a market that is still relatively unsaturated, with the added advantage of presenting products at origin, establishing commercial contacts without intermediaries and positioning themselves at an early stage of Colombia's export development.
Sponsors, meanwhile, will find an opportunity to associate their brand with a founding event that has strong growth potential, institutional visibility and cross cutting presence across the academic agenda, networking spaces and international communication before and after the fair.
Likewise, for professional attendees, EXHCO represents an efficient way to explore new business opportunities, identify emerging suppliers and products, gain first hand insight into the country's productive reality and assess commercial or technological partnerships in a concentrated environment designed to facilitate effective meetings over the three days of the event.
"EXHCO 2026 aims to establish itself as the reference platform for Colombian horticulture, replicating successful models seen in other producing countries that have managed to transform their agricultural base into an export driven engine. For Colombia, EXHCO represents a statement of intent. For the global sector, it is an invitation to take a closer look at an origin with real potential".
For more information:
EXHCO 2026
T. (+57) 3124384319
[email protected]
https://exhco.com/
