Alabama trade mission visiting Argentina, Ecuador

Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield and a team from Alabama is visiting two countries in South America for trade this week. (Lucy Berry/lberry@al.com)

A group of state and business leaders will be visiting two South American countries this week as part of a trade mission with the Alabama Department of Commerce.

The group, visiting Argentina and Ecuador, includes representatives from the engineering, medical, technological and manufacturing sectors.

In Buenos Aires, the mission will host a seminar on business and investment opportunities in Alabama, and delegation members will meet with several top government officials, including the minister of foreign affairs and the minister of production (trade).

There will also be receptions at the ambassadors' residences for networking with public and private sector leaders.

Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield said the mission is meant to establish "a foothold in new markets" for Alabama companies.

"Alabama companies are making their mark in all corners of the world, with high-quality, in-demand products and innovative processes that are consistently recognized as market leaders," Canfield said, in a statement.

Among those companies participating in the trade mission are Atlas RFID Solutions and Warren Manufacturing of Birmingham; Douglas Manufacturing of Pell City, Irrigation Components of Daphne; Knox Kershaw of Montgomery; ProcessBarron of Pelham; Rico Suction Labs of Mobile; SEPCO of Alabaster, and Smarter Services LLC of Prattville. Representatives from the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce will also take part, as well as the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Of Alabama's record $21.7 billion in exports last year, Argentina took in about $111.5 million, while Ecuador took in $7.8 million. Argentina's total had more than doubled over the past year.

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