UTSA International Trade Center hosts government officials from Paraguay

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(April 28, 2015) – This week, the International Trade Center, a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in the UTSA Institute for Economic Development, is hosting a delegation of government officials from Paraguay. The visitors are in San Antonio to begin the process of adapting and implementing the U.S. SBDC Model in Paraguay.

Parque Tecnológico de Itaipu is a technology and business hub for Paraguay and the region. It is home to one of the world's largest hydroelectric dams.

Established throughout the U.S. by the federal government in partnership with state governments and universities and colleges, SBDCs assist entrepreneurs and business owners in establishing and growing their businesses through a free and confidential suite of advising services. Services include, but are not limited to, feasibility studies, business strategy, financial planning, marketing, production and professional networking. The centers support new and existing businesses.

The Ministerio de Industria y Comercio de Paraguay (Paraguay Ministry of Industry and Commerce) with the support of the Parque Tecnológico de Itaipu, Paraguay (Itaipu Paraguay Technology Park) are leading the emerging SBDC Network project in Paraguay. Director Myrian Torres de Segovia and Project Management Coordinator Carolina Echague are representing the Parque Tecnológico. UTSA Associate Vice President for Economic Development Robert McKinley, International Trade Center Director Cliff Paredes and Senior International Business Advisor and country project lead Monica Alcoz are hosting the visitors.

This visit is part of the International Trade Center and Institute for Economic Development's SBDCGlobal program that, with the support of the U.S. Department of State, has been helping countries to develop U.S.-modeled SBDC networks in the Americas since 2003.

"We are looking forward to sitting down with our colleagues from Paraguay and getting the basic building blocks in place for transferring the U.S SBDC methodology to support Paraguay's SMEs," said Paredes. "Parque Tecnológico de Itaipu will provide an excellent infrastructure for building SBDCs, and the assistance of the Ministry will make the project a sure success."

The International Trade Center at UTSA is one of the largest and most successful trade assistance organizations in Texas. It helps companies become globally competitive through technical trade advising, customized market research and innovative training programs. The center is a specialty SBDC program in the South-West Texas Border SBDC Network.

In 2014, the UTSA SBDC International Trade Center was recognized as the national SBDC of the Year at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

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