The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, is organizing a Global Diversity Export Initiative (GDEI) Trade Mission to Panama, Costa Rica, and Colombia from March 10-15, 2024, that will include the Opportunities for Woman-Owned Businesses in the Americas Conference in Panama City, Panama on March 10-11, 2024.
Recruitment and consideration will be extended to all export-ready U.S. companies, including small businesses, trade associations and other exporting organizations that meet the established criteria for participation in the mission. ITA is seeking to improve outreach and representation of businesses with owners and/or leaders from underserved communities, including through the GDEI.
When women trade, women succeed economically. With 95 percent of world consumers and 80 percent of world purchasing power outside of the United States, international trade is an untapped resource for women-owned businesses. Women-owned companies that trade and export earn more, create more jobs, stay in business longer and are more resilient to financial shocks than those relying exclusively on domestic markets.
This mission is focused on expanding export opportunities to U.S. small and medium-sized businesses that are founded, led, operated or owned by women from industries with growing potential in Panama, Costa Rica, and Colombia.
The mission is horizontal, with various sectors represented, based on best prospects for U.S. companies in Panama, Costa Rica and Colombia. Best prospect sectors are: Agricultural Products Automotive Parts, Accessories and Service Equipment; Construction Equipment; Cosmetics; Cybersecurity; Defense & Security; Disposable Medical Supplies; eCommerce; Education; Electric Power and Renewable Energy Systems; Information and Communication Technology (ICT); Infrastructure; Medical Devices and Equipment; Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Equipment; Processed Food and Beverages; Solar Energy Products; and Travel and Tourism.
The business conference will be held in Panama City, Panama on March 10-11, 2024, with a focus on tools, and resources to help women entrepreneurs and executives accelerate their exporting journey. There will also be prearranged one-on-one consultations with U.S. commercial officers and diplomats representing 15 countries in the Americas. U.S. Embassies participating in the event are from the following countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay.
For more information, please contact us at Trade.Americas@trade.gov
Lisa White joined the Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) in 2020 and is currently Commercial Attaché at U.S. Embassy Bogota. She manages FCS services to assist U.S. businesses develop their export sales in Colombia and SelectUSA for Colombian investments in the United States. Her prior posting was at the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Seattle where she advised Washington businesses on how to grow international sales and developed special programs to accelerate women-owned businesses. Lisa has more than 15 years of combined federal service with experience at three previous agencies. Previous roles include the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) where she worked as an Economic Development Specialist and Public Information Officer, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) where she worked as an Immigration Services Officer, and the U.S. Peace Corps where she worked as a Regional Recruiter. Prior to that, she served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guinea and Mali in West Africa where she supported small business development and developed French proficiency. Lisa graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a BS in Business Administration with a focus on marketing and communications.