BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//ChamberMaster//Event Calendar 2.0//EN METHOD:PUBLISH X-PUBLISHED-TTL:P1H REFRESH-INTERVAL:P1H CALSCALE:GREGORIAN BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Denver BEGIN:DAYLIGHT RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYMONTH=3;BYDAY=2SU DTSTART:20070101T000000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:Mountain Daylight Time END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYMONTH=11;BYDAY=1SU DTSTART:20070101T000000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:Mountain Standard Time END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20140209 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20140215 TRANSP:TRANSPARENT X-MICROSOFT-CDO-ALLDAYEVENT:TRUE SUMMARY:Mountain West Trade Mission to Colombia & Panama DESCRIPTION:Zions Bank\, in coordination with the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service offices in Utah\, Idaho\, and Montana\, the World Trade Center Utah\, and additional trade promotion partners\, is supporting a trade mission of businesses from the Mountain West region to Colombia and Panama\, February 9-14\, 2014. This trade mission presents an excellent opportunity to meet potential partners or buyers in two of the most dynamic markets in the Western Hemisphere. Last year's implementation of the U.S.-Colombia and U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreements provides a tremendous framework for U.S. companies to access such market opportunities. \n\nColombia is the only country in South America with two seacoasts (Pacific and Caribbean)\, which provides tactical shipping advantages in today's global market. Aided by major security improvements\, steady economic growth\, and moderate inflation\, Colombia has become a free market economy with major commercial and investment ties to the United States\, Europe\, Asia\, and Latin America. With the implementation of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement on May 15\, 2012\, Colombia is one of the largest markets for U.S. exports in Latin America. \n\nPanama has historically served as the crossroads of trade for the Americas. Its strategic location as a bridge between two oceans and the meeting of two continents has made Panama not only a maritime and air transport hub\, but also an international trading\, banking\, and services center. Panama's global and regional prominence is being enhanced by trade liberalization and privatization and it is participating actively in the hemispheric movement toward free trade agreements. Panama's dollar-based economy offers low inflation in comparison with neighboring countries and zero foreign exchange risk. With average GDP growth rates of 8.5 percent\, Panama's per capita GDP has more than doubled over the past decade. \n\nFor a list of some of the best prospect sectors for U.S. companies in Colombia and related industry reports\, click here.\nFor a list of some of the best prospect sectors for U.S. companies in Panama and related industry reports\, click here.\n\nWhat the trade mission will offer you and your business in Colombia and Panama:\n \nMeet prescreened business contacts face-to-face\, including potential agents\, distributors\, buyers and joint-venture partners\, in one-on-one appointments scheduled for you in advance\, through the U.S. Commercial Service's Gold Key Service.\n\nConnect with industry decision-makers and government officials at VIP networking receptions. Engage with U.S. and Colombian and Panamanian business leaders already successfully operating in Colombia and Panama. Assess the business climate\, trade policies and market opportunities to determine if Colombia and Panama is right for your business.\n\nEnjoy group business and cultural excursions in both Bogota and Panama City.\n\nTrade Mission Itinerary will include:\n\nFebruary 9-11\, Bogota\, Colombia\n One-on-one business meetings through Gold Key Service\n Embassy hosted business networking reception\n Embassy businsess briefing\n\nFebruary 12-14\, Panama City\, Panama\n One-on-one business meetings through Gold Key Service\n Embassy hosted business networking reception\n Embassy business briefing\n Visit to Colon Free Trade Zone and Panama Canal Expansion Site\n\nFor additional information on logistics and fees associated with the trade mission\, please contact: Tausha Dingman\, tausha.dingman@zionsbank.com\, 801-309-0950\n\nFor additional information on Gold Key Service programming during the trade mission and how to register\, please contact: Dave Fiscus\, david.fiscus@trade.gov\, 801-255-1873\n\nPlease note the deadline to register for Gold Key Service programming is Friday\, December 13\, 2013.\n\nGrant monies through the State of Utah administered State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Program may be available to qualifying Utah companies. For more information\, please contact the State of Utah's STEP Program Office. X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:
Zions Bank\, in coordination with the U.S. &\; Foreign Commercial Service offices in Utah\, Idaho\, and Montana\, the World Trade Center Utah\, and \;additional trade promotion partners\, \;is \;supporting a trade mission of businesses from the Mountain West \;region \;to Colombia and Panama\, February 9-14\, 2014. \; This trade mission \;presents an excellent opportunity to meet potential partners or buyers in two of the most dynamic markets in the Western Hemisphere. Last year&rsquo\;s implementation of the U.S.-Colombia and U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreements provides a tremendous framework for U.S. companies to access such market opportunities. \;
Colombia is the only country in South America with two seacoasts (Pacific and Caribbean)\, which provides tactical shipping advantages in today&rsquo\;s global market. Aided by major security improvements\, steady economic growth\, and moderate inflation\, Colombia has become a free market economy with major commercial and investment ties to the United States\, Europe\, Asia\, and Latin America. With the implementation of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement on May 15\, 2012\, Colombia is one of the largest markets for U.S. exports in Latin America.
Panama has historically served as the crossroads of trade for the Americas. Its strategic location as a bridge between two oceans and the meeting of two continents has made Panama not only a maritime and air transport hub\, but also an international trading\, banking\, and services center. Panama&rsquo\;s global and regional prominence is being enhanced by trade liberalization and privatization and it is participating actively in the hemispheric movement toward free trade agreements. Panama's dollar-based economy offers low inflation in comparison with neighboring countries and zero foreign exchange risk. With average GDP growth rates of 8.5 percent\, Panama&rsquo\;s per capita GDP has more than doubled over the past decade.
For a list of some of the best prospect sectors for U.S. companies in Colombia and related industry reports\, click here.
For a list of some of the best prospect sectors for U.S. companies in Panama and related industry reports\, click here.
What the trade mission will offer you and your business in Colombia and Panama:
 \;
Meet prescreened business contacts face-to-face\, including potential agents\, distributors\, buyers and joint-venture partners\, in one-on-one appointments scheduled for you in advance\, through the U.S. Commercial Service&rsquo\;s Gold Key Service.
Connect with industry decision-makers and government officials at VIP networking receptions.
Engage with U.S. and Colombian and Panamanian business leaders already successfully operating in Colombia and Panama. Assess the business climate\, trade policies and market opportunities to determine if Colombia and Panama is right for your business.
Enjoy group business and cultural excursions in both Bogota and Panama City.
Trade Mission Itinerary will include:
February 9-11\, Bogota\, Colombia
&bull\; One-on-one business meetings through Gold Key Service
&bull\; Embassy hosted business networking reception
&bull\; Embassy businsess briefing
February 12-14\, Panama City\, Panama
&bull\; One-on-one business meetings through Gold Key Service
&bull\; Embassy hosted business networking reception
&bull\; Embassy business briefing
&bull\; Visit to Colon Free Trade Zone and Panama Canal Expansion Site
For additional information on logistics and fees associated with the trade mission\, please contact: Tausha Dingman\, tausha.dingman@zionsbank.com\, 801-309-0950
For additional information on Gold Key Service programming during the trade mission and how to register\, please contact: Dave Fiscus\, david.fiscus@trade.gov\, 801-255-1873
Please note the deadline to register for Gold Key Service programming is Friday\, December 13\, 2013.
Grant monies through the State of Utah administered State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Program may be available to qualifying Utah companies. \; For more information\, please contact the State of Utah's STEP Program Office.