Expoflores and AgroCheck start collaboration

Expoflores, the Association for Flower Growers and Exporters in Ecuador, and AgroCheck, supplier of debtor information and international collection agency, have entered into a partnership to protect flower growers and exporters from defaulters.
 

The collaboration is an important new chapter for Expoflores to prevent financial losses for its members. Access to the AgroCheck database, warning list and debtor reports offers very useful background information about potential customers for flower growers and exporters in Ecuador. An important part is that AgroCheck members from different countries (mainly the Netherlands, Colombia, Ecuador and Kenya) share information with each other about doubtful debtors.

"We have been working with Expoflores for more than four years now and have already helped their members in various collection cases during these years," says Mark Weitjens, director of AgroCheck. “Last November Expoflores asked us to give a presentation during Siflor (an international floriculture symposium) about the financial aspects of flower exports and the necessity of debtor information. This was an ideal opportunity to inform dozens of growers and forwarders about our services, and we received very positive feedback. During Siflor we had several agreements with Expoflores and agreed that a more extensive collaboration is very useful for both parties. ”

Mark explains: “We already have many customers in South America, but every month we are approached by" new "growers and exporters who have an outstanding claim against a debtor or have been scammed and ask us to help us collect. Through the collaboration with Expoflores we can reach a large market in Ecuador and save their members from bad debts. In combination with a similar collaboration that we have with Asocolflores (industry association in Colombia), this means that we have an even greater international reach for our own members. ”

“This is the next step in our goal to create a complete international database for trading companies in the most important export countries of flowers and plants. They all deliver flowers and plants to the same customers all over the world. It is actually very simple: if a supplier has a problem with a non-paying customer and shares this information with AgroCheck, other suppliers are notified. One time you help a competitor with that and next time they help you! ”