Automation Alley, Michigan’s largest technology business association, announced today that the total amount of export sales made by local companies as a result of participation in Automation Alley trade missions is now more than $507 million.
“This figure represents the hard work of our team and our past trade mission participants,” said Noel Nevshehir, Automation Alley’s director of international business services.
“Our goal is to demystify the exporting process for small and medium-sized companies. We’ve experienced great success in that area to date, and we expect similar success in the years to come. With less than one percent of our nation’s 30 million businesses exporting, there is an enormous opportunity for local companies to grow by expanding their business abroad, ultimately leading to economic growth and job creation here in Southeast Michigan.”
As a result of the $507 million in export sales by local businesses, 2,817 American jobs have been created or supported. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, in 2014, every $1 billion of U.S. exports supported nearly 5,800 jobs.
Since its first trade mission in 2001, Automation Alley has led a total of 24 trade missions to regions around the world, including the Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. To date, representatives from 170 local companies have participated in Automation Alley missions.
Upcoming trade mission destinations include:
- Mexico: Sept. 20-25, 2015
- Dubai Airshow: Nov. 6-13, 2015
- Hannover Messe (Germany): April 25-29, 2016
- Cuba: Fall 2016
Automation Alley staff handle all mission-related planning and details before, during and after the mission. All Automation Alley trade missions include five-star accommodations, internal transportation, matchmaking meetings, business briefings, welcome receptions and cultural tours. Trade mission prices are discounted for Automation Alley members.
Automation Alley works with organizations such as the U.S. Commercial Service and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to arrange in-country matchmaking meetings with potential business partners, buyers and end users of the participating companies’ products, services and technologies.
A previous trade mission participant, Cheryl Goin of Vantage Plastics, had this to say about her experience: “This mission was so productive and stress-free. It was a wonderful luxury to just show up at the airport and put yourself in their capable hands! I also really appreciated the high quality of the meetings that were arranged for us in Mexico. We met decision makers with a high level of interest in our products.”
Prior to each mission, Automation Alley holds country-specific workshops to inform interested companies about the challenges and opportunities of doing business abroad.
Automation Alley has twice been honored by the White House for its significant contribution to increasing American exports, first in 2008 with the “E” Award for Export Service and again in 2013 with the “E Star” Award for Export Service. The “E” Awards are the highest honor presented to exporters and the organizations that support them.
For information about an upcoming trade mission, contact Lisa Lasser atlasserl@automationalley.com or 248-457-3283.
For more information about Automation Alley, visit automationalley.com, or contact Automation Alley at 800-427-5100 or info@automationalley.com.