Trade mission to Chile nets more than $3M in export sales

TAMPA — Global Tampa Bay, previously known as the Tampa Bay Export Alliance, hosted a trade mission in October to Santiago, Chile, that has produced $3.35 million in future sales and economic activity for participating companies.

According to a press release, eight Tampa Bay area businesses took part in the sales trip, and 53 one-on-one meetings — facilitated by the U.S. Commercial Service’s Gold Key Service Matchmaker program — were held. Chile is one of Florida’s largest merchandise export markets, the release adds.

“Exporting our craft beer has been at the top of my list for a while now and the timing with the Chile mission fit just right with our business growth strategy,” states Mike Bishop, founder of Big Storm Brewing Co., in the release. “As a new-to-export company, I was extremely impressed with not only Global Tampa Bay’s ability to bring together exactly the right partners and services to support our initiatives in market, but also with the U.S. Commercial Service team in Santiago for being on target with the Gold Key matchmaking meetings.”

Participants also attended a country commercial briefing by the U.S. Embassy and a welcome reception hosted by the U.S. Ambassador to Chile.

In May, Global Tampa Bay led a similar export sales trip to Mexico City that netted more than $35 million in projected economic activity for the 15 participating companies, the release adds. 

Global Tampa Bay’s next trade mission destination is Panama City, Panama, March 18-21.