Chile trade mission generates $9M

TAMPA BAY — Leaders of the Tampa Bay Export Alliance, a partnership of Pinellas County Economic Development and the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp., say that the latest trade mission to Chile likely generated $9 million for the local region.

Several city and county politicians led a delegation of 40 Tampa Bay business leaders to Chile from Dec. 1-5 with the goal of promoting business opportunities, education and cultural activities between Chile and the Tampa Bay region. The 14 companies participating on the trip conducted more than 100 meetings with prospective customers and several of them signed deals and sold products while on the trip.

The businesses say the results so far include an estimated $9 million in expected export sales and more than 30 sales leads.