A trade mission of 32 companies from the United States will visit Central America from this Thursday until next Monday to promote US exports in the region and strengthen bilateral trade relations, an official source in Tegucigalpa reported Tuesday.
The mission will be headed by the US Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade, Marisa Lago, the US Embassy in the Honduran capital said in a statement.
“The Central American Trade Mission and Trade Conference will bring together US companies with distributors, sales representatives and other potential pre-selected partners in six Central American markets: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama”, adds the official information.
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Lago will provide opening remarks at the Central America Trade Conference, to be held in San José, Costa Rica, where U.S. trade representatives will participate in region-specific sessions and one-on-one consultations for market insights and fine-tune business strategies.
In addition, according to the diplomatic legation, Lago will meet with the president of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chaves, and other officials from that country “to strengthen bilateral trade ties, promote ways for mutual economic opportunities and advocate for US exporters.”
Lago will also raise on behalf of US businesses and workers, key issues affecting trade in the region, including removing barriers to trade, implementing transparent business, regulatory and procurement practices; ensure efficient trade facilitation and expand opportunities for US technology solutions.
“Central America is home to crucial export markets that offer immense opportunities for US companies and workers in all industries,” said the Undersecretary of Commerce, quoted in the Embassy statement.
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Likewise, it indicates that it hopes “to be able to support our exporters and their workers, advocate for a more solid commercial environment and work to guarantee that the benefits of trade reach both the United States and Central America more broadly and equitably”.
During his visit to Central America, Lago will also meet with representatives from private industry, including the American Chamber of Commerce and local chambers of commerce, in Honduras and Costa Rica, to discuss the challenges and opportunities for companies and their workers in the region.
