Banco Latinamericano de Exportaciones SA, the trade finance bank better known as Bladex, is opening an office in São Paulo, adding one in Mexico City and expanding its operations in New York. Bladex is also seeking regulatory approval in the US to underwrite securities of Latin American companies.
Bladex, which is based in Panama City and funded by regional central banks, specializes in financing overseas trade operations of Latin American companies. It handles trade finance deals mostly in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico and has had an office in Buenos Aires since 1984.