To assist Pennsylvania and New Jersey companies in pursuing new business opportunities in Latin America, the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia (WTCGP), in cooperation with the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GPHCC), is leading a trade mission to Colombia and Panama from June 6 through June 13, 2009.  “Now is the time to take advantage of the business and economic opportunities created by trade reforms made in Colombia and Panama over the past decade.  U.S. firms will benefit further from pending free trade agreements.” says Andrea Townrow, manager of Business Development, WTCGP, and director of the WTCGP’s prominent Latin America Trade Development (LATD) Program.

With a combined market of 49 million consumers and improving economic stability and government security in both countries, Colombia and Panama present numerous opportunities for U.S. companies looking to enter into or expand in Latin America.  In 2007, Colombia was named Country of the Year by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) as a reflection of the country’s 8.2 percent GDP growth in that year and the increasing opportunities in multiple sectors, including telecommunications, energy, transportation and tourism.  Panama borders both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and thus is positioned as the crossroads of trade for the Americas.  The country’s economy is based on a well-developed service sector, with substantial growth in the areas of electric power generation, health care services, port services, land development, road construction, water distribution and purification, telecommunications and tourism.

The trade mission’s itinerary includes a day of one-on-one appointments with pre-screened companies in each country, as well as a cultural tour.  The participation fee for the mission is $600 per city (Panama City, Panama and Bogotá and Medellín, Colombia).  Companies unable to travel may choose to be represented by the WTCGP.  The deadline to register for this trade mission is Thursday, April 30th.

In preparation for this trade mission, the WTCGP and the GPHCC will be hosting a breakfast briefing Business Opportunities in Colombia and Panama: Becoming Business Partners on Tuesday, April 14th from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at The Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (200 S. Broad Street, 7th Floor, DiBona Conference Room, Philadelphia, PA).  Please join our experts from the U.S. Embassies of Colombia and Panama to learn more about the opportunities that are present in these growing markets and the upcoming trade mission.

For more information or to register for the trade mission, please contact Andrea Townrow, manager, Business Development, WTCGP, at atownrow@wtcphila.org or 215-586-4242.

For more information or to register for the breakfast briefing, please contact Delmy Reyes, Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, at dreyes@greaterphilachamber.com or 215-790-3843.

Start enjoying the benefits of WTCGP membership today.

Become a Member...

April 14, 2009 - Business Opportunities in Colombia and Panama: Becoming Business Partners

April 16, 2009 - Trade Tactics Mentoring Breakfast: "Developing an Export Strategy"

April 22, 2009 - Briefings and Counseling with PA Authorized Trade Representatives

May 13, 2009 - World Trade Centers Day Dinner

More Events...

Corporate

Continental Airlines

Small Business

Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

The Rowland Company

Language Services Associates, Inc.

TD Bank, N.A.

Abbey Color, Inc.