Do you run a small or medium-sized Georgia business interested in growing its exports?  If so, check out upcoming trade missions to key international markets.  By exhibiting with the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), your company can take advantage of reduced exhibit fees, co-branded marketing opportunities, market intelligence, and local business contacts. 

“We’re a small Georgia company with limited resources, but we’ve been able to increase visibility for our product in key international markets in a way that we would never have been able to do otherwise,” said Gary Majestic, General Manager of Commercial Fluid Power in Rome, Ga. “The state’s international trade office not only enabled us to participate in a tradeshow in Chile at a very discounted rate, but helped us better understand the local market and position us for greater success.”

Upcoming 2012 state missions now recruiting eligible companies are: 

GLOBE, Vancouver, Canada, March 14-16

For environmental technology companies, GLOBE™ is THE place to see and be seen by 9,000 participants from dozens of countries. The show is noted for the large number of C-suite attendees, and the 2012 event attract buyer delegations from Europe, China, Japan, Latin America, and other regions. 

TRADE MISSION TO PANAMA, Panama City, Panama, March 20-25

Join this exciting, multi-state trade mission led by the Southern Governors Association, which includes a visit to the Expocomer Trade Show targeting the following industries: information technology, construction & infrastructure, textiles, electronics, medical equipment, beauty & health supplies, personal safety equipment, pumps, valves, & hydraulic equipment, and food & beverage. 

EXPOMIN, Santiago, Chile, April 9-13

Companies in the mining equipment, services and technology fields will not want to miss the largest such exhibition in Latin America. Sign up today and give your product or service the chance to catch the eye of more than 2,500 exhibitors and 60,000 industry professionals from 50-plus countries.

ISC BRASIL AND INTERSECURITY 2012, São Paulo, Brazil, April 23-26 

Leverage opportunities around the 2014 World Cup soccer games and the 2016 Olympic Games during a trade mission to São Paulo, Brazil for companies in the security and safety industries. In addition to pre-qualified matchmaking appointments, mission participants will have the opportunity to attend two trade shows: International Security Conference (ISC) Brazil 2012 and InterSecurity (International Urban Safety Trade Fair - www.iscexpo.com.br). 

TURKEYBUILD, Istanbul, Turkey, May 2-6

The largest building and construction trade show in Turkey attracted more than 111,000 attendees last year. If your company focuses on construction machinery, hand tools, prefabricated structures, constructional steel, insulation, building chemicals, roofing, structural systems, landscaping, gates, lighting, and/or elevators, this one show you won’t want to miss.

TRADE WINDS MISSION TO ASIA, Singapore, May 15-18 

Interested in exporting to Southeast Asia? This mission offers one-on-one appointments in Singapore plus your choice of one other country: Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia or Indonesia. Trade Winds Asia is a regional business forum that pre-arranges consultations with U.S. Senior Commercial Officers who can guide you on market entry strategies throughout Asia. 

ILSI-BIOMED, Tel Aviv, Israel, May 21-23

Biomedical, health care and life sciences companies will find plenty of opportunities at Israel’s leading international conference for these sectors. In 2011, the event attracted 1,000 participants from 42 countries. Conference attendees held. 3,500 one-on-one meetings.

HOSPITALAR, São Paulo, Brazil, May 22-25

Market your company at the largest and most important medical trade show in Latin America for products, equipment, services, and technology for hospitals, health clinics and laboratories. Last year key decision-makers in the medical industry were joined by more than 1,200 exhibitors and around 90,000 visitors from dozens of countries. 

FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW (FIA), Farnborough, U.K., July 9-15

A must-attend for companies in the aerospace field, this airshow is held just once every two years. FIA is one of the world's most iconic global aviation events. The 2010 show attracted 120,000 trade visitors from around the world, and exhibitors announced orders totaling $47 billion. Five days of the show are dedicated solely to trade. 

“Our trade services are the best-kept secret in Georgia, and we want to change that. The wide variety of services our division offers is incredible, especially for the price, and we are totally focused on helping Georgia companies to succeed in their international trade endeavors. We are extremely proactive in giving them the tools and information they need, both before and while they’re on the ground in international markets,” said Kathe Falls, director of the International Trade division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.  “We do what we do because every time we help a company increase its exports, that company helps grow our economy.”

The Trade Division can now serve more companies in more ways, and often at a lower cost, due to grants GDEcD received from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Appalachian Regional Commission. If your company is a small- or medium-sized business, it may be eligible for assistance with new export services or reduced fees for some existing export services. For information, visit http://trade.georgia.org or contact Ms. Taube Ponce, at 404-962-4118 or at [email protected].

Why Engage in Trade?

According to the International Trade Administration, Georgia is home to more than 10,000 exporters, of which 83 percent have fewer than 500 employees. Increased exports are good for Georgia and Georgia companies. Exporting is not just about increasing profits: it is also about helping companies diversify markets, and gain a competitive edge through global exposure to new technology, innovations and competition. In Georgia, companies that sell overseas grow an average of 18 percent faster than those that don’t, and their workforces are typically 10 to 15 percent more productive. Increased international sales volumes also lower overall production costs and lead to increased profitability.

Georgia’s exports exceeded $28.9 billion in 2010, an increase of more than 20 percent over the previous year and the most Georgia has ever exported in a single year. In the past 10 years, Georgia exports have grown nearly 100 percent. The number of company deals facilitated by Georgia’s award-winning International Trade team has more than doubled over the last five years. During fiscal year 2011, GDEcD’s 10 international offices assisted with 50 percent of these deals. 

The first step for potential participation is to register at http://trade.georgia.org.