TROY – Southeast Michigan companies have made more than $220 million in export sales as a result of Automation Alley trade mission activities, Michigan’s largest technology business association announced Thursday.
These export sales have resulted in the creation or support of more than 1,200 manufacturing jobs. According to the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce, for every $1 billion is U.S. exports, 6,250 manufacturing jobs are created or supported.
?Around the world, demand is increasing for American products, services and technologies,? said Automation Alley Executive Director Ken Rogers. ?Automation Alley trade missions help small to medium-size businesses in Southeast Michigan capitalize on this demand, and that is evident in our export numbers.?
Since 2001, Automation Alley has organized 17 international and domestic trade missions, including a trip to the Middle East in December and an upcoming trip to Mexico in May.
Missions typically consist of a packed program with briefings, seminars, one-on-one business meetings, factory visits, official receptions and dinners and cultural events. The briefings and one-on-one meetings are prearranged for the individual participants to match their business interests.
To prepare local businesses for trade missions, Automation Alley hosts informative country-specific workshops and seminars prior to the mission as well as export-readiness events featuring international business experts, such as the recent event ?Doing Business in Mexico.?
In addition to trade missions, local businesses can communicate with overseas customers, clients and investors using the state-of-the-art communications tools at Automation Alley?s International Business Center at its headquarters in Troy.
Companies seeking to enhance their global competitiveness and expand their business from Southeast Michigan into the international marketplace are invited to join Automation Alley on an upcoming trade mission. For more information on Automation Alley trade missions, contact the Automation Alley Resource Center at 800-427-5100.
