Matched meetings gave results and encourage a return visit

Reliable and fast with high quality. Swedish suppliers are popular among European purchasers, who find what they’re looking for at matched business meetings at Subcontractor Connect. That’s the conclusion of Atis Bogdans, procurement manager at the Latvian company Ceram Optec, who found three new suppliers at Elmia Subcontractor 2017.

When a low price is not the top priority, then Sweden is an excellent market to find suppliers in, says Atis Bogdans, purchasing manager at the Latvian company Ceram Optec, which makes optical fibres.

“Swedish suppliers are a bit more expensive but are extremely reliable and they deliver quickly and with high quality. Because price is no longer the top priority – but lead times are – I am looking more and more often for business partnerships in the Swedish market,” he says, adding that last year’s participation at the fair’s matchmaking service Connect led to several new suppliers.

Hosted BuyerIn 2017 Atis Bogdans was one of several specially invited international purchasers to participate in Subcontractor Connect’s Hosted Buyer programme, in which foreign buyers are invited guests to meet Swedish suppliers.

“Time is money and if I do spend my time on visiting the fair I have serious reason to do so. The arrangement of short, efficient and pre-matched meetings with personally selected potential suppliers is great and works very well,” he says, and adds that he also expects a good result from this year’s matchmaking.

“My first goal is always to find new purchasing oportunities for critical components with high requirements.”