With international trade quickly becoming a genuine financial opportunity for many U.S. small businesses, the success of last month's LGBT trade mission to Argentina becomes even more significant.
The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce® (NGLCC) South American Business and Cultural Exchange was the first trade mission for LGBT-owned companies looking to do business overseas.
"Because the United States and Argentina are so closely connected when it comes to international trade, we're hoping the success of this LGBT trade mission opens doors for LGBT businesses to become more involved in trade between the two nations," said Justin Nelson, co-founder and president of the NGLCC. "The more businesses we can get involved in the trade relationship, the more beneficial it will be for the economies of both countries."
The trade mission offered a forum for American LGBT business leaders and NGLCC representatives to meet with top government officials, industry leaders, importers and Argentine LGBT entrepreneurs on the subject of international trade.
"We have seen an increased interest from our clients and potential clients to offer services in South America, and this trip provided some of the very valuable resources for us to begin the process," said Thom DeWitt, co-owner of OBOX Solutions and a delegate on the trip.
The NGLCC mission was developed in part as a result of President Obama calling for a doubling of U.S. exports in the next five years.
"There are a great number of quality LGBT-owned businesses that could benefit by finding new customers through export opportunities, and the [South American Business and Cultural] Exchange has laid a strong foundation for future trade opportunities for our members," said NGLCC co-founder and CEO, Chance Mitchell.
Participants also met with the U.S. Commercial Service (USCS), a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce, stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires. The USCS aids U.S. businesses looking to get started in exporting or growing sales to new global markets through market intelligence, trade counseling, business matchmaking and trade advocacy.
"I was really impressed with the U.S. Embassy and the services they provide for U.S. businesses," said Trevor Yager, principal of Trendy Minds, a business member that attended the exchange. "Their Gold Key program of matching U.S. companies with potential clients in Argentina is an invaluable resource and the research they provide is necessary to be successful when trying to do business on a global scale."
While in Argentina for the exchange, Nelson and Mitchell sat down with Argentina's president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. She held an exclusive meeting with eight representatives of LGBT organizations—including the NGLCC and Argentina's LGBT chamber of commerce, Camara de Comercio Argentina Gay y Lesbiana—after signing the nation's historic same-sex marriage bill. Others in the meeting included Argentina chamber founders Pablo De Luca and Gustavo Noguera, NGLCC-certified business owner Bob Witeck, and U.S. travel reporter Michael Luongo.
"President Fernández de Kirchner seemed very interested in learning about our trade mission and the U.S. LGBT community and how newly legalized same-sex marriages might impact cultural tourism between our nations," Nelson said. "LGBT travelers from the United States spend more than $65 billion a year on tourism, so this new law could encourage travel to the area."
Designed to open doors for international collaboration and business development opportunities with one of the top U.S. trading partners in South America, the Exchange gave attendees the opportunity to participate in high-level meetings with decision makers with an eye on exporting U.S. goods and services to South America.
The United States is Argentina's second largest trading partner in South America, with nearly $10 billion in trade between the two countries in 2009, and more than $13 billion in 2008.
Nelson noted that exporting and trade will be a major theme at the NGLCC's 2010 National Business and Leadership Conference this fall in Washington, D.C. Sessions will cover topics ranging from financing exports to finding the right customers and countries in which to export.
"We are looking forward to having the foremost experts from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Export-Import Bank of the United States and private industry on hand to help LGBT entrepreneurs grow their global footprint for success," Nelson said.
The conference is Nov.18-20, 2010 at the Capital Hilton. More information can be found by clicking here.
The 2010 NGLCC Business and Cultural Exchange was sponsored by LAN Airlines, Legado Mitico Hotel, Park Hyatt Mendoza and NGLCC certified businesses, The Accomplished Traveler and OutThink Partners. Click here to see photos from the event.
