World Trade Week focuses on Latin America

West Michigan World Trade Week will bring together a multitude of Michigan businesses May 6 to discuss emerging trends in Latin America. The conference, hosted by Grand Valley's Van Andel Global Trade Center and the U.S. Commercial Service, is celebrating 30 years of helping Michigan’s business leaders increase exports and bring more business opportunities to West Michigan.

This year’s keynote speaker is Ambassador Richard Holwill, vice president of public policy for Alticor, Inc. in Washington, D.C. Holwill has worked around the world with extensive experience in South America, China, India and Russia. He served in the U.S. Department of State in a number of positions including U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador. He is co-chairman of the Cuba Working Group at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

West Michigan World Trade Week
May 6
11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
L. William Seidman Center
Pew Grand Rapids Campus
Register at www.worldtradeweekmi.org

Other conference speakers include Thys DeBruyn, president of Advance Resources and Consulting, and Juan Manuel Solana Morales, consulate of Mexico-Detroit.

Several breakout sessions are planned on a variety of topics including:
• Protecting business interests while traveling in Latin America
• Doing business in Brazil
• Beyond NAFTA: Opportunities in Mexico
• Emerging Markets: Chile, Colombia and Peru

The West Michigan World Trade Week Planning Committee is comprised of volunteers from more than 20 internationally focused companies and organizations. The committee leadership alternates on an annual basis between the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Van Andel Global Trade Center.

For a full schedule or more information, visit www.worldtradeweekmi.org or call 616-331-6811.