Designed for the Business Traveler
Beautifully appointed suites with high-bandwidth internet access, computer desk, safe, 3 direct-dial telephones, bar and kitchenette with fully stocked pantry. 

Inauguration of the Canada-Honduras Chamber of Commerce

CHCC was inaugurated on July 12th, 2002.

TEGUCIGALPA — On Tuesday June 12th , 2002 the Canada-Honduras Chamber of Commerce (CHCC) held it’s inauguration at the Hotel Clarion in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The event hosted a little over one-hundred Honduran and Canadian business and government officials. 

Guest speaking at the event were Canadian Ambassador to Honduras, Louise Leger; Minister of SETCO & Secretary of the CHCC, Brenie Matute; from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, director of the department of trade promotion and investment, Dominique Villeda de Elmadi; and the general manager and president of the CHCC, Jason Stock. The moderator for the inauguration was the President of ANAMINH and director of the CHCC, Roberto Dala.

Honduras This Week sat down for an interview with the General Manager of the CHCC, Jason Stock to ask him a few questions on the event and the CHCC’s history:

HTW: Mr. Stock, where did the idea of forming a Canada-Honduras Chamber of Commerce come from?

JS: In May 2001 I was working as the commercial officer for the Office of the Canadian Embassy in Tegucigalpa when a Canadian business person came into the office and asked why Canada didn’t have a bi-lateral Chamber when most other countries did. The U.S.A., Chile, Germany, Mexico, Spain and many other countries have these organizations to help their companies operate in Honduras - and Canada, with close to $150M USD in investment in various industries did not, so we sent out a number of surveys and the results were astounding. With the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and four countries in Central America (including Honduras) being negotiated, interest is at an all-time high.

HTW: So, the CHCC only promotes Canadian business?
JS: Promoting Canadian business is one of our priorities, but we are also focusing on promoting Honduran business in Canada. Our government focuses it’s policy on exporting, not importing - the CHCC will provide all the services and information necessary for a Honduran to establish a business relationship with Canada. We promote trade, investment and culture in both markets. 

We also provide logistic and consultant services. Our Board of Directors have a wide variety of experiences in virtually all industries, both in Canada and Honduras - our mandate is to share that knowledge and those experiences.

HTW: What services do you plan on providing?
JS: Our services are mostly information-based. We provide Canadians and Hondurans with access to information that they otherwise might not be able to access. 

The CHCC has access to Canadian and Honduran government officials and well placed contacts in all the international financial institutions: World Bank, Central American Bank for Economic Integration, Inter-American Development Bank, etc.. CHCC members will be the first to know about projects up for concession and business opportunities in both markets. 

HTW: It seems as though Canada and Honduras are not very ‘similar’ markets, Canada has 33 million people and exports close to $230 Billion USD to the U.S.A., where Honduras’ entire GDP is approximately $17 Billion USD. Total trade between Canada and Honduras is not even $200 Million USD. How can these two countries benefit each other?

JS: When we look at the trade statistics the two-countries do not match up evenly. A more complete perspective can be reached if we look at Honduras as a door to Central America. Canada and Central America have similar population sizes and somewhat similar trade statistics. 
Canadians exporting or doing business in Honduras will want to later access the Central American market. However, we do have many companies that are operating only in Honduras, or in Honduras and one other Central American country that have been here for years.

I like to use a small analogy when explaining what Canada and Honduras have to gain from each other by using the example of a businessman: 
‘If you’re a businessman, regardless of what country, you have a variety of savings. 

You’ll have your savings account, mutual funds, stocks and bonds, etc.. You invest for your retirement and for your children’s future. You have a variety in your investment portfolio just incase one type of savings takes a loss. 

The same should be done in business - but it rarely is. People export to the U.S.A. and are happy because it’s a big stable market that generates revenues. But, events like September 11th affect the U.S. market, and as a result, affect many companies that do business in the U.S.A. However, if your company was doing business in the U.S.A., Canada and Mexico - your company would not have been in such a difficult situation because you have your alternate markets.’

Canada will never replace the U.S.A. in terms of business volumes for Honduras the same can be said regarding Honduras - however, Canada and Honduras can become very valuable trading partners and offer exporters a very lucrative alternative.

HTW: Mr.Stock, thank you for your time and good luck.
JS: Thank you for this opportunity.

Find out how to advertise
in HTW Online and increase traffic to your website.