Trade Mission to Central America Including the Opportunities in Central America Business Conference

10/19/2025 (11:30 AM)

10/24/2025 (5:30 PM)

(GMT-05:00) Panama

About the Trade Mission and Business Conference

The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration (ITA) is organizing a Trade Mission to Central America, including the Opportunities in Central America Business Conference in Panama City, Panama, on October 19-21, 2025.

COMMERCIAL SETTING

The United States and the Central American region share common interests in strengthening economic growth, prosperity, and competitiveness in the Western Hemisphere. The United States remains the top trading partner in the region. The Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) and the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement facilitate these goals by improving supply integration and creating efficient, transparent customs procedures that enable quicker, more cost-effective market access. These agreements further reinforce economic ties while supporting United States policy objectives for regional stability, energy security, and supply chain diversification.

MISSION DESCRIPTION

U.S. trade mission participants will arrive in Panama by October 19 to attend the opening reception of the Opportunities in Central America Business Conference. This event is also open to U.S. companies not participating in the mission's business-to-business matchmaking sessions. On October 20, trade mission participants will attend the business conference, where they can network and engage in discussions.

Conference sessions will focus on regional opportunities, market entry strategies, legal, logistics, and trade financing resources. In addition, participants will participate in one-on-one consultations with United States and Foreign Commercial Service (US&FCS) Officers from the United States Department of Commerce, and Economic Officers from the United States Department of State, representing United States embassies across the region, including Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama.

On October 21, selected participants will engage in business-to-business meetings with local companies in Panama. For those interested, a limited number of participants may opt to travel to up-to two Central American markets - Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama - for business appointments. These optional meetings will be arranged based on recommendations from US&FCS officers in the respective countries, and each session will be with pre-screened potential buyers, agents, distributors, or joint-venture partners.

INDUSTRIES

U.S. companies and trade associations seeking to expand or enter the Central American market in sectors such as:

Energy
Infrastructure and construction
Telecommunications and cybersecurity
Medical devices and healthcare
Safety, security, and more

The mission is focused on sectors that support U.S. economic and national security, and/or best prospects in each country. The leading sectors for United States exports and investment are:

Belize: Agriculture and Agro-Processing, Aviation, Energy, ICT, Safety and Security.
Costa Rica: Automotive Parts, Accessories, and Service Equipment; Cybersecurity, ICT and Telecommunications, Energy, Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals.
El Salvador: Cybersecurity, Energy, and ICT.
Guatemala: Agribusiness, Critical Infrastructure and Security, Healthcare, and Energy.
Honduras: Automotive Aftermarket Products, Building/Construction Materials, Safety and Security Equipment, Electrical Power Systems, and ICT.
Panama: Automotive Parts and Accesories, ICT, Infrastructure, Safety and Security, and Water Technology and Management.

Conference and Trade Mission Timetable

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Timetable

October 18, 2025: Travel Day/Arrival in Panama City, Panama

October 19, 2025: Panama. Business Conference. Morning: Registration; Noon: Networking Lunch Market Briefings; Afternoon: Registration, One-on-One Meetings; Evening: Networking.

October 20, 2025: Panama. Business Conference. Morning: Registration, Plenary Session; Afternoon: One-on-One and Workshops; Evening: Networking Reception

October 21, 2025: Panama. Morning: One-on-One Meetings (Conference Only Participants).

Business-to-Business Meeting Options

October 21-24, 2025: Morning: Business-to-Business Meetings in (up to two trade mission markets).

Fees and Expenses

After a company has been selected to participate in the mission, a payment to the U.S. Department of Commerce in the form of a participation fee is required.

Business Conference in Panama and B2Bs in one market: $2,500 (SMEs) | $3,500 (Large firms)

Business Conference in Panama and B2Bs in two markets: $3,500 (SMEs) | $4,500 (Large firms)

Above fees include $500 conference fee. Additional reps: $500

Business Conference in Panama Only: $500

* An SME is defined as a firm with 500 or fewer employees or that otherwise qualifies as a small business under SBA regulations. Parent companies, affiliates, and subsidiaries will be considered when determining business size (See https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-guide/size-standards/size-standards-tool).

The above trade mission fees include the $500 participation fee for the Opportunities in Central America Business Conference to be held in Panama City, Panama, on October 19-21, 2025. An additional representative for SMEs and large firms will require an additional fee of $500.

EXCLUSIONS

The trade mission fee does not include any personal travel expenses such as lodging, most meals, local ground transportation (except for transportation to and from meetings), and air transportation. Participants may, however, be able to take advantage of U.S. Government rates for hotel rooms if available. Business or entry visas may be required to participate in the mission. Applying for and obtaining such visas will be the responsibility of the mission participant. Government fees and processing expenses to obtain such visas are not included in the participation fee. However, the U.S. Department of Commerce will provide instructions to each participant on the procedures required to obtain necessary visas.

Become a Trade Mission and Business Conference sponsor today!

Your organization will receive visibility and customized services prior to and during the conference or specific related events. Our events are heavily promoted throughout the U.S. international business community and in the Western Hemisphere region. Your organization will be recognized according to your selected level of participation.

Or send us an email to Trade.Americas@trade.gov

Hotel and Travel Information

Hotel Information Coming Soon!

Important

Travel and in-person activities are contingent upon the safety and health conditions in the United States, Panama and other trade mission countries. Should safety or health conditions not be appropriate for travel and/or in-person activities, the Department will consider postponing the event. In the event of a postponement, the Department will notify the applicants previously selected to participate in this trade mission to confirm their availability but they need not reapply.

Contact Us

For more information, please contact us at Trade.Americas@trade.gov

Learn About Our Events

We invite you to explore the wide variety of events that we offer to help U.S. companies expand their global sales.

SPEAKERS, U.S. COMMERCIAL OFFICERS AND SPECIALISTS

Isabella Cascarano

Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere @ U.S. Commercial Service

Isabella Cascarano, a member of the Senior Foreign Service with the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (US&FCS), U.S. Department of Commerce, serves as the Senior Commercial Officer (SCO) to the U.S. Embassy in Rome, Italy, effective August 2020, and is responsible for supporting U.S. exports and business interests in Italy and promoting Italian direct investment into the United States. She most recently served as the Deputy SCO in Mexico City, Mexico, responsible for US&FCS trade programs and operations in the U.S.’ second-largest export market. Previous assignments include SCO at the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; SCO at the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait City, Kuwait; Deputy SCO at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt; and Principal Commercial Officer at the U.S. Consulates in Munich, Germany and Guadalajara, Mexico.

Isabella earned a MA in Economics and Management from Bocconi University in Milan, Italy and a BA in International Economics from the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She speaks German, Spanish and Italian, and studied Arabic at the Foreign Service Institute.

Clint Brewer

Senior Commercial Officer @ U.S. Embassy Costa Rica

Clint Brewer is a results-oriented Senior Commercial Officer (SCO) with over a decade of experience in the International Trade Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce. In July 2025, he assumed his current role leading the Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) team at the U.S. Embassy in San José, Costa Rica. Clint manages a team of trade professionals covering high-tech sectors vital to strengthening U.S. supply chains and countering China’s influence in the region.

As SCO, Clint advances the Administration’s America First trade agenda by opening markets for U.S. exporters, attracting foreign direct investment into the United States, and advocating for a level playing field for American businesses.

Prior to his assignment in Costa Rica, Clint served eight years as a Commercial Officer in Asia, with postings in Taiwan and Singapore. At the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), he and his semiconductor team facilitated over $65 billion in foreign direct investment from Taiwan into the United States. He also helped connect U.S. software and chip design firms with Taiwanese hardware partners to develop Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) solutions—offering strategic alternatives to Chinese telecom giants Huawei and ZTE.

While serving as both Commercial Officer and Digital Attaché in Singapore, Clint advanced U.S. business interests across Southeast Asia through export promotion, investment support via SelectUSA, and commercial advocacy.

Before joining FCS, Clint spent over ten years in the private sector in the insurance industry. He worked as a Global Account Executive and later as Vice President of Southeast Operations at Lockton Global, where he led a high-performing team in Atlanta and managed clients with operations across Latin America.

Clint holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Spanish from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School. He is a Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) and earned a Spanish fluency certification from the Cervantes Institute in Madrid.

He currently resides in San José, Costa Rica with his wife and two sons.

Timothy Cannon

Senior Commercial Officer @ U.S. Embassy Panama

Timothy Cannon has been with the Department of Commerce since 2003. Prior to joining the Commercial Service, Tim was a Marine at the barracks in Washington, D.C. where he served as a Presidential Honor Guard. After the Marines he worked as a Personal Protection Officer. He then pursued a career in sales with Gallo Winery, Miller Brewing, and Red Bull. After the beverage business, Tim accepted a position with an aerospace company and while attending the Paris and Australian Airshows, Tim utilized the services of the Commercial Service. He was impressed with their assistance and decided to return to the service of the government as a Commercial Officer himself. Since then, Tim has served in Fargo, North Dakota on a domestic tour, Russia, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia and will be in Panama for the next four years.

Leonardo Clavijo

Regional Development Director @ Export-Import Bank of the United States

Mr. Leo Clavijo is a Regional Director for the Export-Import Bank of the United States. His territory includes Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.

He joined EXIM in February 2023, bringing with him decades of global manufacturing sector experience in finance, operations, and sales roles. While in the private sector, he gained firsthand knowledge how EXIM can be leveraged as a strategic tool to increase sales, improve cash flow, and access to capital.

Leo earned a B.A. in Business Administration from Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire and an MBA from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. He is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Kenneth C. Duckworth

Senior Commercial Officer @ U.S. Embassy El Salvador

U.S. Embassy in El Salvador. Prior to coming to El Salvador, he was Principal Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City.

Mr. Duckworth’s Foreign Service career includes assignments to U.S. embassies and consulates in Russia, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Kenya, Korea, Poland, Mexico and El Salvador.

Prior to joining the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service, Mr. Duckworth proudly served as a Democracy and Governance Advisor and Program Officer for the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Mr. Duckworth, a native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, holds a B.A. in Political Science from the George Washington University, Washington, D.C. and a Master’s degree in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He speaks fluent Russian, Ukrainian, Polish and Spanish.

Aaron Franke

Acting Economic Officer/Environment, Science, Health, and Technology Officer @ U.S. Embassy Belmopan

Aaron Franke, an Economics-coned Foreign Service Officer, joined the U.S. Embassy in Belmopan, Belize, in June 2025. As the acting Economic and ESTH (Environment, Science, Technology, and Health) Officer, he oversees a diverse portfolio of economic issues between the United States and Belize. His responsibilities include promoting policies that foster economic growth and reporting on key areas such as cyberspace and digital policy, trade, energy, sanctions, and aviation. On the commercial front, he works closely with the U.S. Commercial Service and Export Assistance Centers to support U.S. businesses and advance American exports in Belize.

Prior to his current role, Aaron served as Vice Consul at the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou, China. Before joining the Foreign Service, he worked as a Presidential Management Fellow and Program Manager in the Small Business Administration’s Office of International Trade, where he focused on export assistance and grant programming for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. He also spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Chongqing, China, teaching business English and promoting cross-cultural exchange.

A native of Toronto, Ohio, Aaron holds a BA in Diplomacy and International Relations from Seton Hall University and an MS in Global Governance, Politics, and Security from American University.

Reinaldo Garcia

Senior Commercial Officer @ U.S. Embassy Honduras

Reinaldo Garcia currently serves as Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. He manages an office of three trade professionals assisting U.S. companies with market access and trade promotion in Honduras and helping Honduran companies invest in the United States. His previous assignment was with the Multilateral & Strategic Initiatives Team, Office of Western Hemisphere, in Washington, D.C., covering critical minerals, border security technology & passport technology, climate/clean tech, and distribution and logistics (supply chains) portfolios. Reinaldo also served as the Deputy Director of the SelectUSA Investment Services Team. Prior to that, he served in Guangzhou, China from 2018-2021. Before joining the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service, Reinaldo worked as the General Counsel for Latin America for a major U.S. real estate company. He holds a JD, a BA in Political Science, and postgraduate studies in international economic and trade law.

Kennia Somerville

Senior Commercial Officer @ U.S. Embassy Guatemala

Kennia Somerville is the Senior Commercial Officer in Embassy Guatemala. Previously, she served as the Deputy Senior Commercial Officer in Embassy Bogota from where she also managed the Partner Posts in Ecuador and Bolivia and covered the ICT and healthcare portfolios.

She began her experience in the Western Hemisphere at the U.S. Consulate in São Paulo, Brazil where she managed the infrastructure, education, tourism, and the SelectUSA foreign direct investment program for the country. She also served at the Philadelphia U.S. Export Assistance Center office where she oversaw a range of sectors, including advance manufacturing, and education for east Pennsylvania and Delaware companies. Prior to joining the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, Kennia served as an International Trade Specialist for a USAID-funded export promotion program which helped South African companies export to the U.S. She also worked on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, served as a Human Rights manager for Amnesty International USA, and worked in the private sector.

A native of Washington, DC, Kennia joined the Foreign Commercial Service in 2014. She is a graduate of Oberlin College and has lived and worked in France, South Africa, Alaska, and Japan.