Planning & Development
Read about upcoming Export events!
[ About ]
[ Services ]
[ Partners ]
[ 2011 Activities ] [ Why Export? ] [ Success Story ]
[ Testimonialsl ]
[ Market Access Grant ] [ Authorized Trade Representatives ]
[ Pennsylvania International Trade Guide ]
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Export Development Expo hosted by SPC, 2011 |
About Export Development
The goal of SPC’s Export Development Program is to provide assistance and create opportunities for Southwestern Pennsylvania companies to expand their business internationally, thereby increasing export sales and employment prospects in the region. SPC’s Export Development staff offers consultative services to small- and mid-sized businesses located throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. SPC’s Export Development Program also sponsors and co-sponsors educational seminars and training programs designed for exporters and potential exporters in the region.
Services
Our services include:
- Export-readiness assessment
- Market identification and access strategies
- International market and industry research
- Trade show and event preparation
- Market Access Grant (MAG)
- Business etiquette and negotiation tactics
- Export documentation and other technical assistance
- Virtual Trade Advisor
Studies indicate that increased exports contribute significantly
to economic growth, yet most small- and mid-sized firms don’t
consider international business opportunities because they
lack trained personnel or have limited access to international
marketing resources. Publicly-funded export programs—like
SPC’s Export Development Program—provide assistance and
afford these companies the opportunity to be internationally
successful while contributing to our region’s economic growth.
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Export Development Expo hosted by SPC, 2011
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Partners
As the region’s Local Development District, SPC partners
with various state- and federally-funded organizations related
to international business development including:
• Duquesne University Small Business Development Center
• Department of Community and Economic Development,
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• Saint Vincent College SBDC, Center for
Global Competitiveness
• U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service
• U.S. Appalachian Regional Commission
In addition, SPC works with a global network of Authorized Trade Representatives representing the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania. These representatives provide market research
and other services from countries in Europe, Asia, Africa,
Australia, the Middle East, and North and South America.
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2011 Activities
In 2011, SPC’s Export Development program continued to meet the high demand for export assistance services from businesses in the region, many of which are now depending on international sales more than ever before. SPC’s Export Development program and the hands-on services it offers were vital to the exporters in this region for identifying their export markets and finding overseas distributors. In 2011, SPC’s Export Development program served 126 companies, including 25 new clients, and completed 281 export-related service requests. Staff assisted local companies in attending trade events, meeting overseas prospects, building business strategies, obtaining market intelligence, and receiving export development grants. SPC worked closely with our local export network partners to provide various export-related seminars and training events in the region to introduce companies to the export process. In 2011, client businesses reported over $50 million in export sales attributable to SPC’s Export Development services.
Our annual Pennsylvania International Week (PIW) was again a successful PA export promotion event in the region. SPC’s staff hosted individual meetings for the local exporters to meet with DCED authorized overseas trade representatives from 20 countries in September 2011. This one-day event provided 185 appointments for representatives from 40 local firms to meet one-on-one with PA overseas trade experts to discuss their export market potentials and opportunities.
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Export Development Expo hosted by SPC, 2011
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Why Export?
- Many studies and statistics show that exports contribute and often lead to economic growth. Although the Southwestern Pennsylvania region has substantial potential to export, the volume of the region's exports is significantly below the nation's average. As a result, export development has become an essential component of the region's economic growth.
- The average company in Southwestern Pennsylvania employs 16 people. Small firms often overlook international business opportunities because they lack trained personnel and international marketing knowledge. Publicly-funded export development programs provide assistance and opportunities to these small businesses, while increasing their chance for success.
- Southwestern Pennsylvania has witnessed a shift in industry, from traditional manufacturing to advanced manufacturing, technology and services. Export development is a crucial component for growth in these new clusters. Our program offers the necessary resources to companies in these industries, many of whom lack in-house international representation.
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Success Story
Xodus Medical, Inc., located in New Kensington, Westmoreland County, was founded in 1993 and has 40 employees. The company manufactures medical surgical products and operating room supplies designed to improve operating room safety.
Xodus began developing their export market in 2000 and has been working with SPC’s Export Development program to grow their export sales for the past 11 years. SPC provided foreign market information, assistance with distributor/agent searches, and preparation of international trade events participation. In 2001, when Xodus was a new-to-export company with less than 20 employees, SPC helped the company obtain a Market Access Grant to participate in a DCED-sponsored trade show in Germany. Based on the success of that initial trade show, Xodus has participated in several PA-organized trade events in Europe and Middle East. By actively working with SPC’s Export Development program, they met with several PA trade representatives during the 2011 PIW event. Xodus’ commitment to developing international markets has paid off, as they have became a savvy exporter with more than 20 export markets. Both their export sales and number of employees have doubled in the past three years.
“SPC is a very valuable resource for our business. Great assistance program!”
-- Craig Kaforey, Vice President, Xodus Medical, Inc.
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Testimonials
“SPC staff has done an excellent job for us!” -- Mark German, International Liner -- Fayette County
“SPC staff was extremely resourceful and a great help to us. Two thumbs up!” – Anthony Battaglia, Pocket Nurse Enterprises – Beaver County
“SPC is very good trade consultant and always provides very professional assistance.” – Robert Thompson, Cleveland Brothers Equipment – Westmoreland County
“SPC’s Export Staff has helped us to continue to increase our export sales substantially.” – Cathy Blocki, Blocki Flute Method – Butler County
“We are a small, rapidly growing Biotech company that is expanding overseas. We have received tremendous support from the regional office… SPC provides an invaluable service that we would not have been able to access anyway or anywhere else. Everyone is absolutely amazing, responsive and supportive.” -- Ria David, Cybergenentics Corp. – Allegheny County
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Market Access Grant
This program is designed to enhance the capability of small and mid-sized Pennsylvania companies to increase export sales. The PA Market Access Grant (MAG) is a valuable tool available to export ready companies seeking financial assistance and foreign market entry support. Through this matching grant program with a maximum annual award of $3,000 provided by the PA Department of Community and Economic Development’s Office of International Business Development (OIBD), the grant can offset a portion of the qualifying expenses associated with international marketing initiatives. For more information and application on the MAG, please contact export@spcregion.org.
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Authorized Trade Representatives
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AUSTRALIA (New Zealand) |
NORTH & SOUTH AMERICA |
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CANADA |
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MEXICO |
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BRAZIL |
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CHILE |
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SOUTH AFRICA |
MIDDLE EAST |
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SAUDI ARABIA |
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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Yemen) |
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ISRAEL (Egypt, Greece, Jordan, Turkey) |
EUROPE |
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CZECH REPUBLIC (Hungary, Poland, Slovakia) |
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FRANCE |
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GERMANY (Italy, Switzerland, Austria) |
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THE NETHERLANDS (Belgium) |
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SPAIN |
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UNITED KINGDOM (Ireland, Scandinavia) |
ASIA |
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CHINA |
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INDIA |
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JAPAN |
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SINGAPORE (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines) |
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SOUTH KOREA |
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TAIWAN |
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VIETNAM |
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Pennsylvania International Trade Guide
The site provides export tutorials, frequently asked questions, an Export Readiness Assessment, a statewide calendar of export-related events,
and an easy way to get in contact with your Regional Export Network (REN) representative designated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s
Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).
This site was funded by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development
and developed by the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia.
www.exportingPA.org.
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For more information on the Export Development
Program, contact Rena Liu-Belshe, Manager, at (412) 391-5590
x320 or e-mail export@spcregion.org.
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