Register Now for the 2022 Central America Business Conference

The U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration is organizing the 2022 Central America Trade Mission and Business Conference.

Hosted in San Jose, Costa Rica, the Central America Conference will provide participants with information on strategies for entering or expanding their business across six markets: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama.

From August 21st to 26th, the Central America Business Conference will focus on regional and industry-specific sessions, market entry strategies, legal, logistics, branding, digital transformation, trade financing, and other resources, as well as pre-arranged one-on-one consultations with U.S. Commercial/Economic Officers posted in six U.S. embassies in the region.

The conference aims to provide a competitive advantage to attendees by identifying the export opportunities and best prospects in Central America. Registration is required.

The Central America Business Conference will kick off with the Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, Marisa Lago, and the U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica, Cynthia Telles. Topics to include:

• Regional Economic Overview: Creating Prosperity in the U.S. & Central America
• CAFTA’s 16^th Anniversary: Enhancing the Agreement for Continued Success
• Accessing Major Project Opportunities in the Region
• Regional Integration Efforts: A Progress Update
• Central America’s Digital Transformation
• Navigating Legal, IP, and other Compliance Issues
• Trade & Development Financing: Post-Pandemic Private Sector Updates
• Logistics and Supply Chain:  Key Issues for Succeeding in Central

Why Central America?

Close Proximity – The Central America region is a natural commercial partner of the United States, tied closely together by geography, history, and culture.

Great Potential for U.S. Exports – The region offers a good opportunity for U.S. exports.  The Central American region has 53 million potential customers who collectively imported over $25 billion of U.S. goods in 2020.

Free Trade Agreements – The United States and Central America enjoy a growing trade relationship, which became even stronger after the implementation of the U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). As of January 1, 2015, most U.S. consumer and industrial goods enter CAFTA-DR countries duty-free (for goods that meet the country-of-origin requirements). In general, CAFTA-DR has been very successful for all parties. Intra-regional trade among Central American countries and the Dominican Republic increased from $6.3 billion in 2010 to more than $10 billion by 2020.

The Root Causes Strategy – As a result of U.S. engagement under the Root Causes Strategy, Customs and border systems in Central America are more efficient and less subject to malfeasance, there is increased alignment and reduced redundancy of regulations across the region, and infrastructure projects better facilitate trade. The strategy seeks to enhance and diversify trade to include new export sectors, including those that reinforce U.S. supply chain needs.

To learn more about the Business Conference agenda and speakers, or to register, click here.

Marisa Lago, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, will be leading the Trade Mission to Central America and will be opening the Business Conference!