Business owners looking to increase sales in Mexico are being invited to go on a trip south of the border next month to visit manufacturing facilities.

On Sept. 9, the Arizona U.S. Export Assistance Center, which is part of the state Department of Commerce, is leading the excursion called "Selling to Mexico’s Maquiladoras 101." It is a one-day program designed to prepare companies for developing sales in Mexico’s large manufacturing sector.

Maquiladoras, or maquilas, are factories in Mexico that import materials and equipment duty- and tariff-free for manufacturing and then re-export the assembled product back out of Mexico.

"Sonora’s maquiladora sector is a strong target for Arizona businesses because it’s part of the broader Mexican export-oriented manufacturing sector," said Eric Nielsen, director of the Arizona U.S. Export Assistance Center. "They buy nearly $87 billion of machinery, components and inputs every year, making it the single largest industrial market in Latin America."

The day includes:

• An onsite briefing from Mexican Immigration and Customs about business visas and the process of clearing U.S. goods destined for maquiladoras.

• Tours of Nogales, Sonora’s two largest maquiladora shelter plant operations.

• Presentations addressing maquiladora fundamentals such as the competitive environment, growth opportunities, purchasing, quality and logistics.

• Round-trip bus transportation from Phoenix and Tucson to Nogales, Sonora.

• Lunch and snacks.

A bus will leave Tucson at 8:30 a.m. from the InnSuites Hotel, 475 N. Granada Ave., and is scheduled to return at 6:30 p.m.

The cost for the day is $125 per person. Register online at www.buyusa.gov/arizona/maquila101.html or (520) 670-5540.