EVENT: Indonesia-Arkansas Business Forum
March 30, 2017
Denise Thomas (left), director of Africa and Middle East Trade and Melvin Torres (right), director of Latin America Trade stand with Scott Ferguson, president of the World Trade Centers Association at the General Assembly.
World Trade Center Arkansas at the 48th WTCA General Assembly
April 4, 2017
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Arkansas Company finds success on Central America Trade Mission

Melvin Torres (left) of the World Trade Center Arkansas and Doug Brooks (center) speak to an interested buyer in Panama during the Trade Mission.

Melvin Torres (left) the Director of Western Hemisphere Trade for the World Trade Center Arkansas and Doug Brooks (center), Vice President of International Sales for AERT, Inc. speak to an potential buyer in Panama during a 2017 trade mission.

March 31, 2017 – Doug Brooks, Vice President of International Sales for AERT, Inc of Springdale, Ark finds success on Trade Mission to Central America.

“We had a very successful trade mission in Central America,” Brooks said. “Special thanks to my friends at the World Trade Center Arkansas who have been with me every step of the way helping Arkansas companies like AERT open new markets for our innovative moisture resistant Eco- Friendly outdoor composite decking products.”

This trade, which took place at the Trade Americas conference in San Jose, Costa Rica from March 26 – 28, 2017, was an opportunity for Arkansas companies to engage in business-to-business meetings with interested buyers from seven different markets across multiple industries. It was led by Melvin Torres, Director of Latin American Trade for the World Trade Center Arkansas who led the mission to Panama and Honduras in addition to Costa Rica.

“We led Arkansas businesses looking to explore opportunities in Central America,” Torres said. “They not only had the opportunity to personally meet and build relationships with interested buyers, but they could gain market insights, meet industry contacts, plan business strategies, advance specific projects and identify potential partners.”

The business-to-business meetings were organized by the U.S. Commercial Service and held at the Intercontinental Hotel in San Jose, Costa Rica. The trade mission began with the Business Opportunities in Central America Conference. The focus was on regional-specific sessions, market entry strategies, legal, logistical and trade financing resources as well as pre-arranged, one-on-one consultations with U.S. Commercial Service and State Department diplomats with regional commercial expertise.

For more information about World Trade Center Arkansas’ mission to Central America, contact Torres at melvint@uark.edu or call him at 479-418-4822. For information about future trade mission opportunities or other World Trade Center Services, contact Torres.

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 below.