TROY – New business and export sales for Automation Alley’s trade mission participants to Brazil now total $188 million, an increase of $22 million. The total contracts secured by participants have created 1,044 new jobs, both direct and indirect, for Southeast Michigan.
?It?s remarkable what our International Business Services team continues to achieve. A 12 percent increase in new business for American-made goods and the creation or support of 127 new jobs for our region ? both resulting from our trade missions ? are only the most recent successes,? said Automation Alley Executive Director Ken Rogers. ?I encourage companies to explore the possibility of going on one of our trade missions. You can help grow your business globally as well as become business ambassadors for Southeast Michigan.?
Automation Alley led a trade mission for eight local companies to Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, Brazil in May 2012. Brazil is identified as a strong emerging market, one that has drawn the attention of Michigan businesses. With the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics to be held in Brazil, there?s a new sense of urgency contributing to accelerated business deals.
International Business Services has conducted 15 trade missions since 2001. According to the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce, for every $1 billion in U.S. exports, 6,250 manufacturing jobs are created or supported. For every $180,000 in U.S. exports, one job is created.
Automation Alley?s International Business Services team is preparing for an upcoming international mission to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar set for November and a domestic mission to the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C. in October.
