LUBBOCK — West Texas business people have a chance to establish new international trade contacts Sept. 3-5 during the Fifth International Business Partner Trade Show at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. The trade show is sponsored by the Alliance of Northeast Chihuahua and West Texas (ACT).
Formed in 1995 by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, ACT’s mission is to organize and coordinate trade missions and business partnering trade shows and to provide publications that promote activities, products, and services. It also provides information on business and financial customs and works to streamline transportation and shipping through the Presidio, Texas, and Ojinaga, Mexico, ports of entry.
“ACT is comprised of private businesses and government representatives from West Texas and the Mexican state of Chihuahua,” said Steven B. Paz, an ACT director and Extension computer specialist. “The goal is to facilitate business ventures and trade relationships between the United States and Mexico.”
During its first four years, the international trade show was alternately held in Fort Stockton, Texas, and Chihuahua, Mexico — attracting more than 4,000 visitors annually and featuring seminars in English and Spanish on finance, U.S. customs and import and export regulations.
The Lubbock show is scheduled for Sept. 3 from noon to 7 p.m., Sept. 4 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sept. 5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will kick off the trade show at noon on Sept. 3. ACT’s fifth annual trade show meeting is set for Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. in the Civic Center’s Terrace Suite — the trade show banquet follows at 8 p.m. in the center’s mezzanine.
This year’s trade show seminars (Sept. 3-4, from 9 a.m. to noon) will focus on using electronic media for marketing, cultural differences between U.S. and Mexican businesses, business etiquette and selling in a wholesale market. The seminars will also feature an agricultural trade update focusing on imports/exports and trade trends and issues.
Trade show participants will get a first-hand look at Lubbock and South Plains agriculture during tours on Sept. 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. These tours will feature vegetable, cotton, peanut and livestock production and processing, as well as a taste of South Plains grape and wine production.
“We expect about 150 exhibitors for this year’s show,” Paz said. “The Lubbock Chamber of Commerce and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce were instrumental in putting the show together. We’ve also had the support of several area businesses, such as West Texas Utilities Company. Developing new avenues of trade benefits economic development on both sides of the border and helps businesses and consumers alike. That’s what ACT is all about.”
For more information on the Lubbock trade show, contact the Lubbock Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at (806) 767-0994.
-30-
GENL TOP