ROGERS, Ark. – The World Trade Center Arkansas is leading a trade mission for Arkansas companies interested in exporting to Caribbean countries. The mission will go to the Trade Americas – Business Opportunities in the Caribbean Region Conference in Miami, Florida, from May 6-7.

Beginning May 8, Arkansas companies can then travel to a Caribbean country of their choice to participate in business-to-business meetings with a pre-screened potential buyer, agent, distributor or joint-venture partner. 

The World Trade Center Arkansas will also lead interested companies on a trade mission to Puerto Rico on May 10.

Arkansas companies that wish to join the World Trade Center Arkansas delegation can contact Melvin Torres, director of Western Hemisphere Trade, through email at melvint@arwtc.org or call 479-418-4822.

The Trade Americas conference is hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Adminisration. At the conference, companies can participate in one-on-one consultation with U.S. diplomats from the region and then travel to a Caribbean nation for business-to-business meetings based on recommendations from the diplomats in those markets.

The World Trade Center Arkansas will facilitate these meetings.

"The Caribbean region as a whole represents a market of about 43 million people who collectively imported over $26 billion of goods in 2016," said Torres. "This program offers Arkansas companies the opportunity to explore six markets in the Caribbean region."

Arkansas companies will have the opportunity to travel to:

• The Bahamas
• Barbados
• Dominican Republic
• Haiti
• Jamaica
• Trinidad and Tobago. 

The World Trade Center Arkansas will also lead companies on a trade mission to Puerto Rico.

"Puerto Rico imports more than $43 billion in goods every year," Torres said. "This may increase during 2018 due to the recent natural disasters."

This trade mission is open to all industries but will focus on:

• Automotive parts and services
• Construction equipment
• Road-building machinery
• Building products
• Infrastructure projects
• Medical equipment and devices/pharmaceuticals
• Information and communications technology
• Energy equipment and services
• Safety and security equipment
• Hotel and restaurant equipment
• Franchise
• Manufacturing equipment
• Yachting industry/maritime services/sailing equipment

For more information, visit www.arwtc.org/trade-missions or contact Melvin Torres at melvint@arwtc.org or call 479-418-4822.

About the World Trade Center Arkansas: The mission of the World Trade Center Arkansas is to grow trade and increase Arkansas exports by connecting Arkansas businesses to the world through international trade services. For more information and valuable updates, please follow the Center on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the World Trade Center Arkansas newsletter.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.