Export Promotion Services Matchmaker Program, will lead a Matchmaker Trade Delegation to the Chile and Venezuela, June 22-26, with an optional spin-off stop to Guayaquil, Ecuador, June 29-30. The Matchmaker will target the Safety and Security industries. The focus of the delegation will be to match participating U.S. companies with qualified agents, distributors, representatives, licensees, and joint venture partner in these markets. The delegation will be led by Gordon Keller, Project Manager, Matchmaker Program.
The market for security equipment in Chile has experienced a sustained growth in the last decade in each of its various subsectors. Products and services for industrial as well as personal security, electronic systems and guard services, armored bank trucks, labor security, equipment for personal defense, and fire prevention devices, technology, and equipment are all in high demand. The local industry has a well organized advertisement campaign to inform consumers of state-of- the-art technology to protect their enterprises. 1998 imports in this industry are expected to increase by 23% over 1996 with a total market size of $216.8 million.
Due to the growth of crime, all types of security systems, services and products are enjoying an extended period of growth in Venezuela--a trend that is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. The growth includes security devices for automotive, industrial, institutional and residential applications, and for government institutions such as prisons and police forces. The total size of this market exceeds $300 million, of which over $100 million is in exports. Currently, U.S. companies hold a 50 percent market share in the residential security products subsector. The Venezuelan market for industrial and personal safety equipment has witnessed similar growth, coinciding with the rapid expansion of its oil processing/production, telecom and electrical infrastructure, and metro subway industries. All told, there are around 200,000 workers requiring industrial personal protection devices comprising a market exceeding $100 million, 90 percent of which are imports.
The security equipment industry in Ecuador experienced a 50 percent increase in imports of technologically advanced security equipment in 1996. Industry leaders contacted report that strong demand in this sector continues, especially in residential and automotive alarms, anti-theft vehicle tracing devices, industrial security equipment for the oil industry and electronic surveillance systems. There is no local production of security equipment in Ecuador, despite the fact that violent and non-violent crime has been increasing 70 percent annually. Total market size in 1997 was estimated at $212.63 million (all in imports) with U.S. companies accounting for 75 percent.
The Matchmaker's goal is to gain first-hand market information and provide access to key government officials and potential business partners for new-to-market, new-to-export U.S. safety and security equipment and service firms desiring to enter the Chilean, Venezuelan and Ecuadoran markets, as well as establish gateways into other South American markets.
Participants will spend two days in Santiago, Chile and Caracas, Venezuela; with an option to add on two days in Guayaquil, Ecuador. At each stop, the Commercial Service will provide an extensive market briefing highlighting opportunities in the healthcare technology industry, schedule one-on-one appointments with potential business partners for each participant and arrange a reception to introduce the participants to key business and government officials in the safety/security equipment and services industries. Participants can expect to meet with 8-12 pre- screened business partners per stop.
Mission participants will arrive in Santiago, Chile on Sunday June 22nd and have two days of business meetings (June 23 and 24). The delegation will then fly to Caracas on the 25th and have meetings on the 26th and 27th. Delegation members who wish to attend the spin-off stop to Guayaquil, Ecuador will travel over the weekend and have meetings June 29-30 before concluding the mission.
Matchmaker promotion will include but not be limited to the following venues: the Export Assistance Centers and Teams; Business America Magazine; relevant trade publications; relevant trade associations; past Matchmaker and Commerce trade mission participants; various in-house and purchased industry lists. The Matchmaker will also be listed in the Federal Register and on ITA's Internet home page.
Recruitment will begin immediately and will close on May 8, six weeks prior to the start of the mission.
Any partisan political activities of an applicant, including political contributions, will be entirely irrelevant to the selection process.
Gordon Keller, Project Officer
Matchmaker Trade Delegations Program
U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 2012
Washington, D.C. 20230
Tel: (202) 482-1793
Fax: (202) 482-0178