Posted by
Auto Care News
on
October 02, 2017
BETHESDA, MD – October 2, 2017 – The Auto Care Association
hosted four companies on a trade mission to
Central America –
Honduras, Sept.
26 and Nicaragua, Sept. 28 – as
part of the Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) award from the U.S.
Department of Commerce. The association received the award to help the
automotive industry increase exports to free trade agreement partners in Latin
America.
Trade missions are business development opportunities to
gain first-hand market information and one-on-one meetings with potential
clients and partners. The association, in collaboration with the U.S.
Commercial Service, organized a sold-out trade mission to Colombia earlier this
year, and two successful trade missions to Guatemala and Peru in 2016.
The Central America trade mission included a country
briefing organized by the U.S. Embassy in each country. Trade mission delegates
participated in personalized business-to-business matchmaking meetings with
foreign industry executives, pre-screened to match companies’ specific business
objectives. Delegates also had the opportunity to participate in networking
events.
“The
trade mission was extremely well organized, from the personalized meeting
agenda, qualifying the prospects to the logistical help from Auto Care and the
U.S. Commercial Service,” said Harold Menke, director of sales/special markets,
Centric Parts. “Not only did we make some great contacts, we had the ability to
see the market and the only way to do that is to be on the ground. The trip
completely met and exceeded my expectations, and I hope to participate again in
the future.”
For details about the Auto Care Association’s future trade missions, visit www.autocare.org/trade-missions
or contact Carolina Arregoces at carolina.arregoces@autocare.org,
or 240-333-1037.