The Virginia/Washington, D.C. District Export Council (DEC) is organizing a U.S. Trade Mission to the Canary Islands, November 16-20, 2015.

The purpose of the trade mission “is to find partners from the Canary Islands and other regions of Spain and learn about the advantages of setting up an operation in the Canary Islands to pursue opportunities in West Africa,” according to Sandra Collazo, senior international trade specialist with the U.S. Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration.

The mission will focus on assisting U.S. firms in the energy, environmental technologies, industrial equipment and supplies, infrastructure and logistics sectors and is certified by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Commercial Service.

The Canary Islands, which fall under the jurisdiction of Spain, are located just 62 miles off the coast off the coast of southern Morocco and “are an extraordinary base from which to expand exports to West Africa and beyond,” said Collazo.

The mission will visit the islands of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Fuerteventura, where the delegates will receive market briefings on the Canary Islands and West Africa, participate in customized meetings with key officials and prospective business partners, she said.

Participants in the five-day mission will have the opportunity to visit infrastructure sites and logistics centers, attend exclusive networking receptions with local industry leader and government officials.

The trade mission will also have the opportunity to attend the Africagua Conference, the region’s largest annual event focusing on renewable energy and water technology.

Deadline to sign-up for the trade mission is September 30. For further information, contact Sandra Collazo at the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Alexandria, Virginia.

Applications will be reviewed to determine your firm’s potential in the region, with a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 companies accepted. Applications received after the September 30th deadline will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.