Washington, Mar 20 (IANS): Latin America is an essential market for US goods and strengthening America's economic partnership with the region will help create more jobs in the US, President Barack Obama said here Saturday before kicking off his five-day tour to the region.

"One of the main reasons for my trip is to strengthen economic partnerships abroad so that we create good jobs at home," Obma said in his weekly radio and Internet address before his three-nation trip, Xinhua reported.

Obama said Latin America is a part of the world where the economy is growing very quickly. And as those markets grow, so does the demand for goods and services.

"I want to make sure these products are made in America. I want to open more markets around the world so that American companies can do more business and hire more of our people," he said.

He said every $1 billion of goods and services that the US exports, supports more than 5,000 domestic jobs.

Besides Brazil, Obama will also visit Chile and El Salvador as part of his three-nation trip.