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UTSA to provide Technical Training, and SBDC Certificate Training Follow-up in Guatemala

San Antonio, March 02, 2015 – The International Trade Center, a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Institute of Economic Development, announced today that it will travel to Guatemala to provide technical training and guidance follow-up on previous SBDC Counselor and Director Certificate Training.

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

The goal of the SBDC Counselor and Director Certificate Training is to transfer the SBDC model methodology and train professionals on how to manage and operate an economic impact-producing SBDC. This training is part of the International Trade Center and Institute for Economic Development’s International SBDC Expansion Initiative that, with the support of the US Department of State, has been helping countries to develop US modeled SBDC networks in the Americas since 2003.

UTSA International Trade Center Senior International Business Advisor Julio Garcia de las Mestas, and Global SBDC Instructional Coordinator Minerva Garcia will conduct the visit March 11 and 12, 2015.

“Currently, Guatemala has five pilot SBDCs set up and actively providing business-advising to clients,” said Cliff Paredes, Director of the International Trade Center. “There are two centers in Guatemala City, one in Chiquimula, one in San Marcos, and one in Sololá. In the coming months they have plans to open five more centers and in 2016 they have plans for five more — for a total of 15 SBDCs by the end of 2016. Guatemala is making great strides in adapting and implementing the US SBDC model and they are starting to see the benefits in economic development and added strength in their local economies.”

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 consulting, customized market research and innovative training programs. The center is a specialty SBDC program in the South-West Texas Border SBDC Network. Follow them on Twitter (@TexasTrade) and like them on Facebook (Facebook.com/texastrade).

For more information on the project, visit http://www.sbdcglobal.com/index.php/us/pending-approval-user/pending-approval-avatars/aboutus/international-sbdc.html.

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