Events
VMA Events Calendar
2021 Trade Mission to the Caribbean Region
Mission Overview
The Caribbean region as a whole represents 30 markets, 50 million people who collectively imported $30 billion worth of U.S. goods and services in 2019. The Caribbean is a very diverse region with great potential for U.S. exports. Its close proximity to the U.S., and its regional integration, are some of the more relevant reasons why the Caribbean should be a key part of your company’s international strategy.
The 2021 Trade Americas program offers U.S. companies the opportunity to explore fourteen markets in the Caribbean region: Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Suriname, The Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Hosted in Bridgetown, Barbados, the Trade Americas – Business Opportunities in the Caribbean Region Conference will focus on region-specific sessions, market entry strategies, export compliance, legal issues, logistics, disaster resilience and recovery, and access to finance.
What You Can Expect
The combination of participation in the Trade Americas conference and business-to- business matchmaking appointments in one or two markets with a prescreened potential buyers, agents, distributors or joint-venture partners in Caribbean countries will provide participants with access to strategies for expanding their business across the region. By attending this conference, U.S. companies will be able to:
- Gain market insights
- Make industry contacts
- Solidify business strategies
- Advance specific projects
- Identify potential partners
Target Audience
The mission is open to U.S. companies from a cross-section of industries with growing potential in Caribbean region such as agribusiness, alternative energy (renewable energy, storage, energy efficiency), aviation/airports, automotive parts and services (e-mobility), business process outsourcing, construction equipment/road building machinery/building products/infrastructure/smart cities, consumer products (clothing, accessories, health and beauty products), franchising, hotel and restaurant equipment, information and communication technology, manufacturing equipment, maritime services/yachting industry, marine ports, medical equipment and devices/pharmaceuticals, oil and gas industry technology and services, safety and security equipment, travel and tourism, waste management, and water treatment and supply.
Conference Dates: October 25-29 2021
Location: Bridgetown, Barbados (Conference), Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Suriname, The Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago (Trade Mission)
Cost*:
- Conference Only: $650 per participant
- Conference plus B2B Meetings in One Country:
- $2,300 for small and medium sized enterprises**
- $3,500 for large firms**
- Conference plus B2B Meetings in Two Countries
- $3,300 for small and medium sized enterprises**
- $4,500 for large firms**
*Expenses for travel, transportation, lodging, most meals, and incidentals will be the responsibility of each mission participant.
**As a federal agency, the U.S. Department of Commerce must follow the Small Business Administration’s small business size standards per the Small Business Act of 2013.
REGISTER HERE
Trade Builds Virginia – Community Roundtable Luncheon
Register here
On behalf of the Virginia Manufacturers Association, Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Virginia Trucking Association, Americans for Prosperity and The LIBRE Initiative, Trade Builds Virginia would like to invite you to join us as a special guest for a Trade Builds Virginia community roundtable luncheon on Thursday, October 28, 2021 from 12:00-1:30 pm. The complimentary event will be hosted at the business of one of our key state exporters Falls Church Distillers, 442 S. Washington Street A, Falls Church, VA, 22046.
Trade Builds Virginia is a non-partisan effort that strives to educate and engage our local leaders as to the importance of international trade to our state’s economy. For this special event, we are excited to bring together the participants from our 2021 program that includes Virginia’s leading manufacturers, logistics providers, manufacturers, farmers, and entrepreneurs who know just how important trade is to our state’s economy and vitality.
Our roundtable discussion will be led by a panel including:
• Michael Paluzzi, Founder, Falls Church Distillers
• Brett Vassey, President, Virginia Manufacturers Association
• Michel Zajur, President/CEO, Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Dale Bennett, President of Virginia Trucking Association
• Michael Monrroy, Trade Builds Virginia leader & Coalitions Director, The LIBRE Initiative
• Jacob Fish, Deputy State Director, Americans for Prosperity
We hope you will join us as we share stories with our local and state leaders about the good jobs supported by the folks who build, transport, and deliver high quality goods and services around the world.
***In addition to a parking lot in front of Falls Church Distillers, parking is also available for free across the street at the Target parking garage.
2021 Trade Mission to Southern Africa
The objective for this trade mission is to arrange and conduct quality meetings between you, a VEDP client, and potential sales partners (agents, representatives, or distributors) and/or customers in Southern Africa. VEDP’s ultimate goal is for these meetings to help you generate new sales for your company to customers in Southern Africa and to provide you with market intelligence.
To verify that Southern Africa is a good market for your company, contact your local International Trade Manager or the Trade Mission leader immediately! VEDP only wants you to participate if they think there is good market potential in Southern Africa for your company. They can perform exploratory market research within a short period of time to verify market potential for you. The more time you give them, the better job they can do!
Learn More & Register Here
VMA Fall Air Regulation Subcommittee Meeting
Contact Kimberly Noonan at knoonan@vamanufacturers.com for an invitation to VMA’s Fall ARS meeting, which will be held virtually.
VMA Workforce Solutions Committee Meeting
The next Workforce Solutions Committee Meeting will be on November 11 from 10am – 12:30pm. This meeting will be virtual using Microsoft Teams. If you are interested in participating, please contact Kimberly Noonan at knoonan@vamanufacturers.com for the calendar invite and agenda details.
Data Security – Why It’s Everyone’s Business
Protect your business from data breaches that affect all companies, not just Fortune 500 firms. Learn practical methods to reduce cyber liability risk. Attendees will leave with an understanding of cyber risk as it applies to their business and be eligible to receive a complimentary data breach risk assessment.
2021 Virginia Competitiveness Forum & WiM-Virginia Leadership Conference
November 16: Virginia Competitivenss Forum
November 17: WiM-Virginia Leadership Conference
For more information, check out our Forum/Leadership Conference Event Page.
VMA Annual Business Meeting (Members Only)
Speakers: Jim Taylor, EHS&S Chair; Edwin Amerson, VCC Co-chair; David Lyons, Energy Co-chair; Nat Marshall, Workforce Solutions Chair; Brett Vassey, VMA/GAC
The VMA Annual Business Meeting is for members only. Members will be briefed on the VMA 2022 Legislative Agenda, VMA Committee work and participate in VMA Board elections.
Contact Kimberly Noonan for an invitation to the VMA Annual Business Meeting.
Trade Mission to South America & Business Conference
The Trade Mission to South America and Business Conference offers U.S. companies the opportunity to explore eleven markets in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Uruguay.
Hosted in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the Trade Americas – Business Opportunities in South America Conference will focus on region-specific sessions, market entry strategies, export compliance, legal, logistics, disaster resilience and recovery and trade financing resources. You will also be able to have prearranged one-on-one consultations with U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service (US & FCS) commercial officers and/or Department of State economic/commercial officers with expertise in commercial markets throughout the region.
The combination of the Trade Americas conference and customized business-to-business matchmaking appointments in ONE or TWO countries with pre-screened potential buyers, agents, distributors, or joint venture partners will provide participants with strategies for expanding their business across the region.
Depending on market potential, mission participants may request a customized business matchmaking service in up to TWO countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guyana, Peru, Paraguay, Suriname, or Uruguay.
Register Your Interest
| Conference Only: | $650 per participant |
| Conference plus B2B Meetings in One Country: | $2,800 for small and medium sized enterprises. $4,000 for large firms** |
| Conference plus B2B Meetings in Two Countries: | $3,800 for small and medium sized enterprises. $5,000 for large firms** |