Chicago

Nationally, Chicago is in third place, behind New York and Los Angeles, with a contribution of 3.9% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the United States or a GDP in current dollars of 610.5 billion of dollars across all its industries.

Chicago is considered a world-class financial center due to its innovation in the sector. Institutions (world-renowned research centers and universities) contribute to the economic innovation process by financing new companies and working directly with them.

It is a crucial city for air travel and freight transportation (one in six vehicles on Chicago's interstate highways is a truck). This impacts both the regional and North American economies. Transportation and logistics generate considerable value and employment for the region by creating high value-added jobs.

Chicago hosts 230,624 small businesses and 104 have been included in Inc.'s list of the 5000 fastest growing companies. Chicago is now considered one of the best places to invest in startups.

Chicago has traditionally been a leader in the manufacturing industry. Although it has recently lost importance, specialization in this area remains respectable compared to other metropolitan regions in the US, (it represents 11.4% of employment).

Presence of world-class academic and research institutions such as Northwestern University and the University of Chicago, which are ranked among the 30 best scientific universities in the world and among the 12 best in business, economics and engineering.

Photo Gallery: 
Chicago Trade Mission - Day 1
Chicago Trade Mission - Day 2
Chicago Trade Mission - Day 2 - Doing Business in Panama
Chicago Trade Mission- Day 3