Business diversity gets boost

Contractor Ramiro Murguia wants to diversify his nearly 10-year-old business by possibly importing woodwork, pottery and welding products from his home state of Jalisco in Mexico.

"I'm here to learn about the import and export of goods," Murguia said as he attended the first Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce Latin American Business Council Expo on Wednesday, which was held to promote and foster new business opportunities for U.S. and Latin American businesses.

"I like to travel, and I'm looking for new revenue," Murguia said."

With a downturn in the housing market, Murguia hopes to find new earnings for his Ameriazteca Contractors LLC, a business that went from 140 employees during the housing boom to just 10 now.

He's on the right track, according to Clarke Thompson of the state Department of Commerce.

"Diversify your sales," Thompson said. "It's important to stay afloat when there are downturns like now. Don't look at the export market when things get tough. By then it's too late."

Thompson called Latin America a key destination for the state's goods and services. Mexico and Brazil, the two largest economies in the region, lead the way, he said.

The expo also offered advice on overcoming cultural differences, especially since Hispanics make up the largest minority group in America at 45.5 million as of 2007, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That number is expected to explode to 132.8 million by 2050.

Hispanics and Latinos make up 3.3 percent of the population in South Carolina, but 17 percent of those live in Charleston County, according to the Latin American Business Council.

"We are experiencing a growing

Hispanic population, and we want to know how to handle it," said Alan Donald of Keller Williams Realty who led the cross-cultural panel discussion during the expo. "It's important to learn about diversity and the Hispanic market."

Eileen Chepenik, executive director of Trident Literacy Association, echoed his remarks.

"They will make up a large percentage of the workforce as baby boomers start retiring," Chepenik said, adding that 60 percent of those eligible to become citizens are deficient in literacy.

They need to learn the language skills necessary to function properly and not be taken advantage of, while businesses need to adapt and help them learn to be proficient in English to maximize productivity, Chepenik said.

Murguia can attest to that. When he came to America in 1989, he could not speak English. It took the contractor five years, and he is still learning the language.

"If you have to eat, you are forced to learn it," he said.

Reach Warren Wise at 937-5524 or wwise@postandcourier.com.