Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield is main a delegation of Alabama enterprise leaders on a commerce mission to Germany this week, resuming strategic journeys to overseas malls which have helped state-based corporations discover new markets and partnership alternatives.
The journey to Munich and close by Augsburg is the Alabama Division of Commerce’s first commerce and enterprise improvement mission since earlier than the pandemic, when a The Alabama staff traveled to the United Arab Emirates in September 2019.
The mission in Germany began on Sunday and lasts till Wednesday, September 28.
The Ministry of Commerce Worldwide Commerce Workplace groups up with the US Business Service to prepare the mission, which goals to offer worldwide alternatives for minority-owned companies in Alabama by permitting them to fulfill potential European companions.
The businesses had been supported partially via a cooperation settlement with the US Small Enterprise Administration.
Enhance alternatives
The Alabama staff will take part within the eleventh EU-US Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Workshop on finest practices in Augsburg. The occasion goals to enhance commerce and funding alternatives for small and medium enterprises.
The theme of this yr’s workshop is “The Rise of SMEs: Getting Collectively on Each Sides of the Atlantic”.
“By our Workplace of Worldwide Commerce, we’re main the cost to make sure Alabama companies are immediately linked to the sources they should entry overseas markets and develop export alternatives,” Canfield mentioned.
“We’re dedicated to strengthening Alabama’s worldwide ecosystem and dealing with our enterprise companions in any respect ranges to foster a wholesome local weather for worldwide enterprise,” he mentioned.
The Alabama staff arrived in Munich, capital of Bavaria and a world middle for know-how, finance, innovation and science, on Sunday. The staff attended a welcome dinner sponsored by Export Alabama and engaged in enterprise conferences on Monday earlier than heading to Augsburg.
Wednesday’s SME workshop in Bavaria’s third-largest metropolis will embody discussions on subjects together with enterprise alternatives, pandemic transition methods and entry to finance, in addition to enterprise networking alternatives .
Alabama corporations sending representatives to the commerce mission embody:
- GeneCapturea Huntsville-based biotech firm creating wearable know-how to determine infections.
- BLOC World Groupknowledgeable providers agency in Birmingham specializing within the supply of company property and infrastructure tasks.
- Homean electrical car hospitality firm devoted to creating refined consumer experiences via well-designed consumable merchandise to struggle local weather change.
- Ada Worldwidea Birmingham-based industrial engineering and challenge administration providers firm.
- Ashipa Electrical Restricteda Birmingham firm that develops micro-grid administration software program.
Connections with Germany
German corporations have invested almost $10 billion in Alabama since 1999, and the European nation is without doubt one of the state’s high buying and selling companions. Alabama opened a enterprise improvement workplace in Stuttgart in 2019.
Christina Stimpsondirector of the Workplace of Worldwide Commerce, mentioned the commerce mission represents a possibility for Alabama corporations to determine new progress alternatives to strengthen the way forward for their companies.
“This commerce mission is about serving to Alabama companies open new doorways, discover new markets, and construct new relationships in one of the dynamic economies on the planet,” mentioned Stimpson. “We’re consistently working to make sure that all Alabama companies perceive the alternatives that exist in overseas markets and that overseas companies perceive the alternatives Alabama has to supply.”
This story initially appeared on the Alabama Division of Commerce Web site made in Alabama.
