OBAMA TRADE OFFICIAL LAUNCHES EXPORT PROMOTION PARTNERSHIPS WITH AMERICAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE THROUGHOUT LATIN AMERICA

Under Secretary Francisco Sánchez Wraps Healthcare Technology Trade Mission to Mexico City

MEXICO CITY – Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sánchez joined leaders from 11 American Chambers of Commerce (AmChams) in Latin America today to announce new partnerships under Commerce’s Global Buyers Initiative. Formal memorandums of understanding were signed during a ceremony at the annual Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America (AACCLA) Conference.

“The American Chambers of Commerce are the primary voices for U.S. companies doing business throughout Latin America, and an important partner for the International Trade Administration,” Sánchez said. “Our combined export promotion efforts through the Global Buyer Initiative will enhance opportunities for U.S. small and medium-sized enterprises to export their goods and services, grow their businesses, and create more jobs at home.”

Representatives from AmChams in Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Dominican Republic; El Salvador; Guatemala; Honduras; Mexico; Panama; Peru; and Uruguay participated in the ceremony. Belize is also participating in the partnership, but could not attend the event.

“Businesses from across Latin America will be better able to source high-quality goods and services from the United States and become more competitive in the global marketplace,” Sánchez added.

Earlier in the day, Sánchez delivered keynote remarks to the AACCLA Conference luncheon where he highlighted the importance of strengthening commercial relations between the United States and its trading partners throughout Latin America.

Sánchez was in Mexico City leading a delegation of 17 U.S. companies that provide high-technology medical equipment and devices, as well as products and services related to automated health records, imaging data transfer and storage, and real-time data access. Sanchez and the delegation toured the Mexican National Institute of Health for Specialized Medicine and met with Mexico Ministry of Health officials to discuss export opportunities on this critical sector. The Mexican healthcare sector has invested an estimated $500 million in healthcare information technology systems.