Commercial mission to DR nets $18M in sales
A delegation of 15 local companies that participated in a commercial mission earlier this month came back with their hands full and the possibility of garnering more than $18 million in immediate and projected sales, Economic Development and Commerce Secretary José Pérez-Riera and Enlace Empresarial President Luis Torres-Llompart said Monday.
The companies participated in more than 100 business meetings scheduled from Nov. 14-18 with companies in Santiago and Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic.
“With this business intelligence effort, Puerto Rican entrepreneurs maximized their potential to successfully enter this market, contacted representatives for their products and business partners for partnerships,” Pérez-Riera said, noting that with the latest commercial mission and participation in foreign fairs, local companies have generated more than $143 million in sales since 2009.
The delegation that traveled to the Dominican Republic comprised: Caribbean Chemical Industries Corp.; Colls Corporation; Danosa Caribbean Inc.; Fulcro Insurance Inc.; M.R. Franceschini Inc.; Metropolitan Industrial Food Service; NCM International; New Energy Consultants and Contractors; PENTA Consulting; PKF Torres Llompart; Sánchez Ruiz, LLC; Tam Industries; Ticket Center; Universal Solar Products Inc.; UPM Group; and William Estrella, Attorneys and Counselors.
“This mission was an example of what can be achieved if the private sector and government come together in a concerted effort,” Torres-Llompart said. “The participation of major business organizations in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic added credibility and maximized the scope of the call that was made, and helped business and government to achieve a matching process to coordinate appointments more effectively.”
“This resulted in an increase in the potential of doing business. The executives who participated said so and the figures speak for themselves,” said Torres-Llompart, who leads the organiztion that represents the private sector in the alliance struck between Puerto Rico and the neighboring island nation to explore new business opportunities.
Meanwhile, Pérez-Riera outlined events and commercial missions for 2012, including participation in Expocomer in Panama, on March 21-24, the Food Marketing Institute Convention in Dallas, May 1-3 and ExpoCapac 2012 also in Panama in September. There are also trips scheduled to Peru and Trinidad & Tobago in May, Guatemala and El Salvador in June, Spain in 2012 and Mexico in October.
