Local delegation drums up $5M in business in Panama
P.R. Trade Executive Director, José Pérez-Riera, far right, speaks with representatives from NetSecure Group Corp. while in Panama.
A delegation of 14 local companies organized by Puerto Rico Trade to participate in the international Expocomer 2011 fair held in Panama late last month generated nearly $5 million in immediate and future sales in the areas of technology, food, construction and renewable energy, the agency announced Monday.
It was the first time local companies participated in the multi-sectorial fair and got the chance to promote themselves among their peers in Europe, Asia and the rest of the Americas, said Puerto Rico Trade Executive Director José Pérez-Riera, who is also secretary of Economic Development and Commerce.
“In the last year, Panama registered the highest economic growth in Central America and is among the top producers in all of Latin America,” said Pérez-Riera. “For that reason, visiting that nation to attend the fair and conduct business meetings allowed us to take part in the extraordinary sales potential of a market whose demand is ongoing.”
“Furthermore, this gave our companies the benefit of learning about products and services exhibited at the largest commercial event in the region,” he noted.
During the trip, the government official met with counterparts in Panama to explore the possibility of establishing a working alliance similar to the one currently in place with the Dominican Republic. He also met with Panamanian government representatives to discuss the possible effects that the recently signed Free Trade Agreement between the U.S. and Panama could have on Puerto Rico.
The Puerto Rico delegation that took part in the event held March 23-26 included: Air Green Corp., AP Industrial Corp., Borshow Hospital & Medical Supplies Inc., Bull-Bond Mfg./ConsPro Corp., Caribbean Project Management, Ciracet Corp., Climactiva, Dreyfous & Associates, Glasstra Manufacturing Inc., Happy Products Inc., NetSecure Group Corp., Tetra Technology Group, The Lean IT Group Inc. and West Power Solutions Inc.
At the event, Climactiva offered a seminar on energy saving and monitoring to a group of about 30 executives from various countries in Latin America, including Costa Rica, Panama and Venezuela, Pérez-Riera said.
