Nine companies from a variety of business sectors recently completed a trade mission to Guadalajara, Mexico, sponsored by the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) and World Trade Center Utah (WTC Utah), in cooperation with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

“As a small business it’s a critical opportunity to develop credibility for yourself when you’re traveling with the state of Utah,” said Natalie Kaddas of Kaddas Enterprises, a plastic fabrication company based in Salt Lake City.

Kaddas represented her company on the governor-led trade mission to Mexico in 2014 and was part of the recent 2016 delegation. “We were able to solidify our working relationships with companies in Mexico,” she said. “This time we were looking to find other industries and tap into other markets.”

In addition to Kaddas Enterprises, other participants in the Utah/Guadalajara trade mission included NewLook International, a manufacturer of concrete stains; adhesives producer FiberFix, poultry cooperative Norbest LLC, recreational equipment wholesaler Jaseboards USA, and representatives of the United Natural Products Alliance,  the Utah Science, Technology and Research Agency, the GEOD,  and the World Trade Center Utah.

“Utah’s exports to Mexico have grown more than 470 percent over the last 10 years, and there is still plenty of untapped potential for Utah companies,” said Derek B. Miller, WTC Utah president and CEO.

In addition to promoting Utah-produced products and services, the mission also aimed at increasing investment from Mexican businesses in Utah.

“As a central hub of the western United States, Utah is a great distribution center for reaching U.S. customers,” said a statement from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. “The state also boasts a low cost of living and a young, multilingual workforce, which is an important resource for foreign businesses looking to expand.”