SALT LAKE CITY, UT, USA - World Trade Center Utah (WTC UTAH) and the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), in cooperation with the U.S. Small Business Administration, partnered for a trade mission to Guadalajara, Mexico March 14 – 18. The mission included key networking opportunities, a special media event highlighting Utah’s economic offerings, and concluded with the largest food and retail trade show in Latin America.

“Utah’s exports to Mexico have grown more than 470 percent over the last 10 years, and there is still plenty of untapped potential for Utah companies,” said Derek B. Miller, WTC Utah president and CEO. “We want to help Utah companies maximize on the opportunities that exist in Mexico. We carefully organized networking events and site visits designed to connect trade mission participants with potential partners, industry leaders and government officials.”

Mexico buys more U.S. products than any other nation except Canada. Around $1.5 billion of daily trade crosses the U.S.-Mexican border. The trade mission aimed to strengthen existing trade partnerships between Utah and Mexico, matching business leaders from both sides of the border.

One of the highlights of the trade mission was the Expo Asociación Nacional de Tiendas de Autoservicio y Departamentales (ANTAD) trade show. Through the trade show, Utah companies were able to connect with buyers for supermarket chains, department stores, specialty stores and pharmacies to just name a few. More than 43,000 people from 45 countries attend the show each year.

Norbest, a company that produces mountain-grown turkey products in Moroni, was a first time participant in ANTAD. The show allowed them to meet with buyers from major grocery distributors.

"We met with so many qualified buyers that it has made us reconsider our markets and see serious potential for expansion," said Robert Wangerien, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Norbest.

At the conclusion of the trade mission, members of the Utah delegation enjoyed a joint reception hosted by WTC Utah and WTC Kentucky. The delegations met with U.S. American Consulate representatives, the president of the American Chamber of Commerce Guadalajara Chapter and CEOs of prominent companies in Jalisco.

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