US Launches Business Mission to Explore Investment Opportunities in LatAm

Nearly 100 U.S. corporate executives, accompanied by Commerce Department officials, have begun touring seven countries in Latin America on the hunt for investment opportunities and expanded economic relations.
“This is a great market for companies of any size,” said Arun Kumar, Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, who is heading the U.S. mission.
The executives have arrived in Chile, where they will take part in a business forum called Trade Winds. Later they will visit several other Latin American countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay.
American export to these countries has increased significantly in the past few years. Last year alone, the United States exported nearly US$273 billion in goods to these markets.
“Chile is a natural host for a business event like Trade Winds,” said U.S. Ambassador to Chile Mike Hammer.  Chile is also a founding member of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a major trade agreement that eased the U.S. business relations with 11 Pacific markets.
According to the Commerce Department, trade with Chile has grown 300% since the two countries signed bilateral trade agreement in 2004.
“Trade Winds will open the door to these markets for the companies participating in the mission, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will help reduce the cost of them doing business in the future,” said Kumar in a press release issued by the Commerce Department.
At each mission stop, the U.S. companies meet with government leaders and potential business partners already based in Latin America. The Commerce Department expects to facilitate about 400 total business-to-business meetings during the trade mission.