MIAMI, FL – Today, U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Director Leocadia I. Zak welcomed more almost 300 attendees to the U.S.-Latin America Aviation Summit. U.S. company representatives, government officials, and aviation experts and officials from eight countries across Latin America will spend the next two days discussing future cooperation to open markets for U.S. exports into Latin America's rapidly growing aviation market.

"This Summit represents a fantastic opportunity to share experiences and learn from each other," stated Director Zak. "By strengthening our partnerships and cultivating new relationships, I believe we will achieve great progress in the coming decade."

Aviation is one of the most dynamic sectors of infrastructure growth in the Latin American and Caribbean region, as countries strive to meet current and projected increased demand for air travel. In addition to project opportunity presentations by invited delegates from throughout the region, the Summit will feature subject matter presentations by U.S. industry and U.S. government officials on technical, regulatory and commercial issues of interest across the region. Among the topics to be featured during the presentations are: airport security, airport IT management, airport safety, and innovations in air traffic control and air traffic management.

During the Summit, Director Zak will be joined by the Honorable John Pistole, Administrator of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, Mr. Pedro Heibron, CEO of COPA Airlines, Mr. Marcelo Pacheco dos Guaranya, President of the National Civil Aviation Agency (Brazil), and the Honorable Fred Hochberg, Chairman and President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

USTDA also used the Summit as a forum to sign a technical assistance grant to the State Economic Development Secretariat in Brazil. The grant will support the development of the Pampulha Airport Development Plan. More than 800,000 passengers travelled through Pampulha Airport, located in Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 2010, and that is expected to double by 2014. The build-out will help the airport better serve the economic needs of the region, and as a result, will contribute to the region’s ongoing economic development.

The Summit is sponsored by Airport Seating Alliance, American Airlines, ARINC, Boeing, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Zodiac Aerospace ESCO, Flex-O-Lite, Flight Safety Foundation, Hi-Lite, Honeywell, ICF SH&E, ITT Exelis, L3, The Louis Berger Group, Inc., Metron Aviation, Miami Dade College, Mission Aviation Fire-Rescue, Rapiscan Systems, Raytheon, Rockwell Collins, SAIC, Secure Wrap, T.Y.Lin International, and Trinity Highway Products International. The Summit will continue at the InterContinental Hotel through December 5, 2012.

Related:

The Honorable Leocadia I. Zak's Welcoming Remarks at U.S.-Latin America Aviation Summit

# # #

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project planning activities, pilot projects, and reverse trade missions while creating sustainable infrastructure and economic growth in partner countries.

Printer Friendly Version

Tweet