Posted by
Auto Care News
on
June 20, 2017
BETHESDA, MD – June 21, 2017 – The Auto Care
Association hosted a sold out trade mission to Bogotá, Colombia, June 7-8, as part of a series of trade missions
that are being organized as part of the Market Development Cooperator Program
(MDCP) award from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The association received the
award to help U.S. companies in the automotive industry increase exports to
free trade agreement partners in Central and South America.
The trade mission was scheduled to coincide
with Expopartes, the largest automotive parts trade show in Colombia. The trade
mission started with a country briefing by U.S. Embassy personnel and
Asopartes, an automotive aftermarket association in Colombia, and a legal and
logistics overview. 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 visit a large distribution center, explore the trade
show and participate in networking events.
“I was really surprised with the
information shared in advance of the meetings. I knew who was coming so it gave
us time to prepare,” said Alfonso Elisea, export sales, Truck Hero. “I
definitely expect to see business. One customer came to our meeting with an
order in hand.”
“For a small company like the Murray
Corporation, we do not have all the resources to organize a fact-finding
mission ourselves. If I attend a trade show and talk to a distributor, I do not
have anything to demonstrate my credibility,” said Mike Sre, international
sales manager, Murray Corporation. “Through Auto Care’s trade mission, the U.S.
Embassy requested meetings on our behalf, automatically boosting our
credibility as a legitimate company.”
“The meetings we’ve had were certainly
worthwhile. The trade mission value was very appealing, especially the turnkey
element of having all meetings, local transportation, hotel and meals
arranged,” said Tim Williams, VP, commercial sales, Penda Corporation. “We are
very interested in participating in future Auto Care trade missions as long as
there is a market for our product.”
The Auto Care Association will be hosting a
trade mission to Central America – Honduras, Sept. 26 and Nicaragua, Sept. 28.
Qualifying firms are eligible for an offset of the trade mission costs.
For details about the Auto Care
Association’s trade missions, visit www.autocare.org/trade-missions. For additional event information, contact Carolina
Arregoces at carolina.arregoces@autocare.org, or 240-333-1037.
About
the Auto Care Association
Based in Bethesda, Md., the Auto Care Association has nearly 3,000 member
companies that represent some 150,000 independent automotive businesses that
manufacture, distribute and sell motor vehicle parts, accessories, tools,
equipment, materials and supplies, and perform vehicle service and repair.
Visit www.autocare.org.