Miami's Famous Gateway To Latin America Now Widening To Palm Beach; International Business Conference, Feb. 4, At Kravis Center WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Dec. 22, 2003 -- The World Trade Center Palm Beach (WTCPB) has been selected to host the 2004 Western Hemisphere Outlook Conference. The WTCPB will work with the U.S. Department of Commerce to bring Senior Commercial Officers from throughout Latin America and the Caribbean to Palm Beach for five days on the week of February 2. With 34 countries in the Western Hemisphere, planners expect to have all major trading areas represented at the conference. "While Miami is the hands-down winner as the gateway to Latin America, Washington is eager to see more of Florida involved in international commerce and is eager to show off another venue," said John McCartney, Florida director for the commercial service division of the U.S. Department of Commerce. "Palm Beach is recognized as a hotbed of development in technology and business and South Florida has great dimensions and is a strong player on the international stage," he said. About 400 businesses -- including banking, agriculture, shipping, marine, legal, architectural, and other manufacturing and service categories -- are expected to attend the day-long conference on February 4. "Those attending should already be involved in some sort of international activity. This conference will give them a chance to assess opportunities for their sectors and find out what needs to be done to further penetrate the international markets," said McCartney. "This is a rare chance to have private meetings with senior officers and get an insider's view of what's happening in Latin America and the Caribbean. These private consultations will help American businesses shape their companies' products and strategy," said Patrick Corley, WTCPB Vice President. "It's the senior officers who report back to their foreign embassies about the commercial services sector. So, after they are exposed to the wonders of Palm Beach, and to the businesses that have yet to avail themselves of all capabilities, they'll return to their countries, more aware of what's here and more aware of what sectors are emerging," says Louis Haddad, WTCPB President. "We are thrilled to have this opportunity. We will be promoting this event not just statewide to businesses, but to U.S. embassy posts, trade organizations, and World Trade Centers throughout the Hemisphere," says Alfred Zucaro, WTCPB Chairman. # # # CONTACT: Michelle Rosen, +1-561-750-9800, ext. 14, or MRosen@transmediagroup.com