Due to the weak dollar and international demand for high quality U.S. products, Georgia has experienced record exports reaching $28.7 billion in 2010. In an effort to encourage more businesses to take advantage of these global market conditions, the federal government has provided states across the country with funds to be used as export initiatives for businesses in trade development programs. The Cobb Chamber of Commerce is pleased to host one of these programs, ExportGA 2011.
Each company participating in ExportGA 2011 will be provided with up to $1,130 in reimbursement for its expenses involving foreign travel, lodging, trade shows/missions, and prospect search services. ExportGA 2011 program is totally focused on helping its participants generate real international sales. One of the keys for accomplishing this is making it much more affordable for potential business partners to meet each other.
So what is ExportGA? This unique program, which starts August 19, not only teaches companies how to take advantage of business opportunities abroad, but also helps them do it at the same time. During this intensive export training, fifteen companies will attend a series of five workshops on export methodology. This series includes instruction on topics such as finding the most profitable export markets, developing distribution channels, global emarketing, foreign and U.S. regulatory issues, pricing and costing products, making international quotations, getting paid, legal and cultural considerations, logistics, and financing. The workshops are taught by experienced private and public sector professionals.
Between the five workshops, the companies will work one-on-one with trade specialists from the U.S. Export Assistance Center (USEAC). The USEAC is a one stop shop for all marketing and financial assistance from federal and state export assistance organizations within the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Small Business Association, the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the University of Georgia. The companies will have access to their trade representatives around the world and other valuable services and sources of information. Georgia is fortunate to have one of the most effective Export Assistance Centers in the country.
Each company will also be assigned an international business student from The University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. This student intern will be an integral part of the consulting team and will provide research support to help identify target markets, potential customers in those markets, competition, product standards and regulations.
Since 1999, ExportGA has helped 130 companies sell in excess of $35 million all over the world.
If you wish to learn more about ExportGA 2011 or to apply, please contact Rick Martin with the International Trade Center of the University of Georgia SBDC at (678) 7972530 or rmartin@georgiasbdc.org.
