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HP Hails High Tech Opportunities in
Central America
Joins U.S. Commerce Secretary on
Historic CAFTA-DR Trade Mission
Statement by Edgardo Torres-Cabellero, Government Affairs Manager, HP Puerto Rico & U.S. Trade Mission Delegate
For Immediate Release: October 18, 2005
“As an innovative, technological leader, HP is honored to join U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez on this first-ever trade mission to Central America since passage of CAFTA-DR. With 60% of HP’s revenue coming from sales outside the U.S., free trade agreements are critically important so we can create new markets and grow new opportunities.
“Today, our delegation is focusing on the important provisions relating to the high-tech sector and CAFTA’s commitments in areas that will provide significant opportunities for U.S. made products and services. For instance, HP believes CAFTA-DR takes the right steps to protecting and enforcing strong intellectual property laws; includes progressive e-commerce provisions and wide-ranging telecommunications opportunities. Lastly, HP supports greater transparency in the government procurement process which will allow HP and other American-based companies to compete on a fairer, level playing field.
“While HP has sales and support operations in Costa Rica and Guatemala, we look forward to the emerging opportunities through free trade in the entire Central American region. Total U.S. high-tech exports to CAFTA-DR nations reached over $2.5 billion in 2003, more than U.S. high-tech exports to Australia, Chile and Morocco combined. HP believes Central America provides great promise for even greater sales of laptops, PCs, printers, digital cameras, IT solutions and other innovative offerings now that this free trade agreement is law.
“As the trade mission’s Information Technology delegate, HP applauds Secretary Gutierrez for leading this historic business development forum in Central America and inviting us to participate. HP firmly believes CAFTA-DR will lead to better economic opportunities for the people of the United States and the people in the Central American region. In addition, HP knows that as our trading relationships strengthen so will the diplomatic ties between the two regions.”
Secretary Gutierrez and 18 business executives are in the midst of a five-day trade mission to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. The mission sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce is highlighting new U.S. business opportunities and stronger trade ties with Central America. This is the first business development mission to Central America since the Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) was signed into law by President Bush on August 2, 2005.
About HP
HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company’s offerings span IT infrastructure, global services, business and home computing, and imaging and printing. For the four fiscal quarters ended Jan. 31, 2005, HP revenue totaled $81.8 billion. More information about HP (NYSE, Nasdaq: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com.
© 2005 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
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