The Auto Care Association hosted four companies on a trade mission to Central America – Sept. 26 in Honduras and Sept. 28 in Nicaragua – as part of the Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) award from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The association received the award to help the automotive industry increase exports to free trade agreement partners in Latin America.

Trade missions are business development opportunities to gain first-hand market information and one-on-one meetings with potential clients and partners. The association, in collaboration with the U.S. Commercial Service, organized a sold-out trade mission to Colombia earlier this year, and two successful trade missions to Guatemala and Peru in 2016.

The Central America trade mission included a country briefing organized by the U.S. Embassy in each country. Trade mission delegates participated in personalized business-to-business matchmaking meetings with foreign industry executives, pre-screened to match companies’ specific business objectives. Delegates also had the opportunity to participate in networking events.

“The trade mission was extremely well organized, from the personalized meeting agenda, qualifying the prospects to the logistical help from Auto Care and the U.S. Commercial Service,” said Harold Menke, director of sales/special markets, Centric Parts. “Not only did we make some great contacts, we had the ability to see the market and the only way to do that is to be on the ground. The trip completely met and exceeded my expectations, and I hope to participate again in the future.”

For details about the Auto Care Association’s future trade missions, visit autocare.org/trade-missions.