Propex Joins U.S. Acting Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank For Infrastructure Trade Mission in Brazil, Colombia and Panama

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., May 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Propex Operating Co., LLC joins U.S. Acting Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank, along with 19 other infrastructure-focused companies for a business development trade mission to Sao Paulo, Brazil; Bogota, Colombia; and Panama City, Panama which began May 12 through May 18, 2013. The governments of these countries have each outlined ambitious infrastructure development plans for the years ahead, and this trade mission will help U.S. companies in a broad range of infrastructure industry sectors make the connections they need to expand their business opportunities in Brazil, Colombia and Panama.

"Propex has developed many relevant products and systems in erosion control, state of the art road construction and effective concrete reinforcement that simplify complexity in the markets we serve around the world," said Mike Gorey, President and CEO of Propex Operating Company, LLC. "South America represents another great opportunity to provide practical solutions for the infrastructure challenges in these developing nations."

The trade mission supports President Obama's National Export Initiative, a government-wide strategy to promote American exports and create 2 million export-supported jobs by the end of 2014. Last year, exports hit another all-time record, reaching $2.2 trillion. And, between 2009 and 2012 exports have supported 1.3 million additional jobs. "In addition to supporting the National Export Initiative, this trade mission also furthers the Obama Administration's efforts to deepen the economic and commercial relationship between the United States and Latin America," said Acting Secretary Blank.

The mission also highlights successes in U.S. trade relationships with Colombia and Panama, specifically, since free trade agreements with each country have taken effect. The Acting Secretary and the business delegation were in Colombia on the one-year anniversary of the implementation of that Free Trade Agreement (FTA), May 15.

"At the Department of Commerce, our mission is to help American businesses grow and to strengthen our economy," said Acting Secretary Blank. "But in order for our economy to thrive, American businesses must compete and succeed in the global economy, and sell their goods and services to the 95 percent of consumers who live outside our borders," she said. "This trade mission will help facilitate business opportunities for U.S. companies in Brazil, Colombia and Panama and grow exports – particularly in the infrastructure and transportation sectors. Each of these countries is making significant investments in infrastructure development, and American companies have the expertise to serve as tremendous partners in their efforts."

The mission includes export-ready U.S. firms such as Propex, in a broad range of leading U.S. infrastructure and industrial sectors, such as construction, architecture and design, transportation, energy, water resources management and security. It will help businesses in initiating or expanding exports to Brazil, Colombia and Panama by making business-to-business introductions, providing market access information, and facilitating access to government decision makers.  For more information contact The Commerce Department's Office of Public Affairs at 202-482-4883. For more information on Propex, visit www.propexglobal.com.

SOURCE Propex Operating Co., LLC