Hispanic Entrepreneurs Gather in San Juan

The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's annual convention includes networking events and an awards ceremony.

By Tamara Schweitzer |  @tschweitzer   | 
 

More than 3,000 Hispanic business leaders and entrepreneurs from the U.S. and Puerto Rico are gathering in San Juan this weekend for the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's annual Convention and Business Expo.

The four-day event, called "Bridging Commerce Among the Americas," kicked off on Wednesday and brings together the largest constituent of Hispanic business owners, corporate executives, and chamber leaders in order to exchange ideas and foster networking opportunities. According to the chamber, there are more than two million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States, which collectively generate more than $350 billion in revenue annually.

Participants attend workshops and training sessions on building business relationships across multiple industries and locations. Additionally, as part of the "Bridging Commerce" focus of the conference, business owners participate in matchmaking sessions with supplier-diversity procurement officers from the federal government and the U.S. corporate sector.

Guest speakers at the conference will also address how to access procurement opportunities, maximize new technologies, and sustain long-term business growth, organizers said.

"It is a unique event driven on the principle of partnerships, business growth, and procurement, which provides an opportunity for the Hispanic business community to network and organize around key issues that affect the U.S. and global economy," Michael L. Barrera, the chamber's president and CEO, said in a statement. The event also provides a unique opportunity for U.S.-based companies to establish roots in Latin America and to connect to a diverse supplier base, Barrera added.

The event culminates on Saturday night with an awards ceremony to honor the achievements of local and statewide Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, outstanding Latino and Latina entrepreneurs, and those who have advocated on behalf of the Hispanic business community.

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