Trade Americas Expo, Essential Forum to Connect SMEs with Investment Opportunities in the Americas, Confirms Panelists for June Event

MIAMI, May 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Latin Trade Group, the leading provider of information and business services to companies operating in Latin America, announces the participation of leaders of top multinational companies as panelists at the second annual Trade Americas Expo: Creating an Environment for Business Opportunities in the Hemisphere.

Hosted in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) at the JW Marriott Marquis in Miami June 20-21, Trade Americas Expo is the premier conference for executives from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking to expand across the Americas.  

Confirmed panelists include:

• Ferdinand Kurt, CEO for the Americas Region at Panalpina
• Oscar Rojas, President for the Latin American Region at Brightstar Corp.
• Craig S. Smith, President for the Caribbean and Latin America at Marriott International
• Jaime Szulc, President for the Latin America Region of Goodyear

"By bringing on international investors who have forged successful partnerships in Latin America and showcasing their personal accomplishments, we are able to offer attendees a thorough understanding of how to grow their businesses in the region," said Rosemary Winters, CEO of Latin Trade Group.  

Event attendees will be able to participate in the "Doing Business in Latin America" panel and learn about the advantages and challenges of doing business in Latin America from experts who have experience and success within the region.  

"Trade Americas is an important event for SMEs that want to grow through new investment opportunities in one of the fastest growing markets in the world today," said Szulc. "This event allows large multinationals to foster relationships with SMEs and enable potential success for all parties involved. For many years, Goodyear has nurtured relationships with SMEs, which have become important distributors for us and evolved into thriving businesses throughout Latin America." 

Latin America is a fast-growing market, and there is potential for more success. In a recent press conference with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, U.S. President Barack Obama committed to creating bi-national dialogue to improve economic and trade relations by boosting SMEs. 

President Pena Nieto recognized that "increasing the connections between our businesses and workers, promoting innovations and entrepreneurship" makes the Mexico and U.S. economies more competitive. According to President Obama, "North America has already become far more integrated economically than it was 10 or 20 years ago." "By us working closely together to upgrade and revamp our trade relationship we are also in a position to project outward and start selling more goods and services around the world."

Expo attendees will hear highly-anticipated keynote addresses from top government, financial and business leaders from Latin America.

The two-day event will feature panel discussions on regional trade agreements, case study presentations, and business and financing opportunities for SMEs in the region. The Expo will also host exhibits from investment promotion agencies and business matchmaking sessions. Latin America is a rapidly-growing market, with a $4.8 trillion economy, in the middle of a global crisis that has negatively impacted other regions of the world.  

Trade Americas is sponsored by CAF – Development Bank of Latin America, HSBC and Brightstar Corp. Strategic partners include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America, Ashoka, La Idea, Enterprise Florida, WeConnect International and CNN.

For more information, visit www.tradeamericas.com.

Latin Trade Group is a leading provider of information and business services to companies operating in Latin America. It publishes award-winning content in Spanish and English for distribution throughout Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States through print, online media and events. Latin Trade Group publishes Latin Trade magazine, Latin Business Chronicle, and is the organizer of the Latin Trade Symposium and BRAVO Business Awards, the LT CFO Series for financial executives of multinational corporations, and Trade Americas.

Media Contact:
Paula Gomez
786-522-0177
[email protected]

SOURCE Latin Trade Group