Go Global: Business Trip to the Caribbean

Export Delaware invites you to join the U.S. Commercial Service on a business trip to the Caribbean to meet new customers and potential partners in fourteen markets in the region: The Bahamas, Barbados and Eastern Caribbean, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Meeting face-to-face with prospective customers is critical to establishing new business relationships around the world. Let us help you make the right contacts in the Caribbean and achieve new international sales! Business meetings with distributors, agents, or customers will be arranged for you according to your needs, all specific to your company. In addition, you may choose to attend the Trade Americas – Business Opportunities in the Caribbean Region Conference taking place in Barbados May 31 – June 1, 2020. Participants are invited to attend and learn about market entry strategies, export compliance, legal issues, logistics, disaster resilience and recovery, and access to finance. The U.S. Commercial Service charges a fee to participate in this trip, however, your company may qualify for STEP Grant funds to cover this fee and a portion of the travel costs associated with the trip.

This is a great opportunity for Delaware companies offering products or services to aid in the rebuilding of the Bahamas after the destruction of the recent hurricane. Export Delaware will be accompanying the participants on the trip and will work with the U.S. Department of Commerce to coordinate Delaware’s participation. To apply, you much first complete the STEP Grant application.

Why the Caribbean?

Besides being one of the most beautiful destinations on earth to travel to, the Caribbean offers many opportunities for Delaware companies.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Caribbean region as a whole represents a market of about 27 million people who collectively imported over $21 billion of U.S. goods in 2018. The region is the third-largest export market for U.S. manufactured goods in Latin America behind only Mexico and Brazil. The Caribbean region is a natural commercial partner of the United States, tied closely together by geography, history, and culture. There is a huge demand for U.S.-made products in the region.

Trip Details

Export Delaware will be accompanying the participants on the trip and will work with the U.S. Department of Commerce to coordinate Delaware’s delegation.

Our goal is to create a successful program for your business and to help you close deals in-country on the trip or upon returning back to the States. In addition, we help plan logistics for ease of travel. This includes in-country transportation on the trip and a preparation session, in-country briefing and follow-up support after the trip.

A portion of the travel expenses may even be covered by the STEP Grant, an SBA program that will reimburse up to 50 percent of all pre-approved, eligible, export marketing expenses (up to a maximum of $7,000).

Next Steps

If you’re interested in participating in this trip, contact Beth Pomper today. Apply to participate by completing a STEP Grant Application.

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