On August 23, 2016, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) awarded Michigan $820,000 in MI-STEP funds for FY17 (October 1, 2016- September 29, 2017). Of the award, $112,600 will be used to support small business export development activities including 4-6 legal trainings and 45 international search engine optimization reports. The remaining $707,400 in funds will be allocated for MI-STEP grants to companies. In addition to SBA’s funding for MI-STEP, the Michigan Strategic Fund is supporting MI-STEP with $830,000, making the total amount of funding available for MI-STEP grants at just over $1.53 million. 

INDONESIA is Southeast Asia's largest economy with a GDP of $888 billion (based on ppp), ranking 10th in the world and averaging over 5% in growth over the last decade. Key commercial sectors for US export include medical equipment, aviation, education and training, agriculture, clean energy technology, power generation, water and wastewater treatment, telecommunications, defense equipment, and oil and gas.

VIETNAM was the fastest growing US export market in 2015, with 23% growth to over $7 billion. The country has been experiencing strong economic growth and fast growing middle and affluent classes with strong receptivity to US products and services. The US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade agreement has done much to strengthen the trading relationship and exports from the U.S. to Vietnam have grown from less than $500 million to over $7 billion. Key export opportunities include: agriculture, machinery, chemicals, instruments and software, telecommunications, IT, oil and gas, power generation, transportation, infrastructure construction, environmental project management, aviation and education.

Automotive Manufacturing Meetings- Detroit

November 15-17, 2016

Novi, MI

Automotive Manufacturing Meetings (AMM) - Detroit is a supply chain event that brings together auto makers, tier suppliers and contract-manufacturers. Engineering, procurement, supply chain, fabrication, commodity teams, suppliers and service providers will meet through pre-arranged one-on-one meetings. AMM Detroit is the missing link in the US automotive supply chain events world.

Ford Motor Company has partnered with abe, world leader in the matchmaking business, to host this world class event.

Michigan companies will receive a $400 discount off the basic booth space. If interested in participating, contact David Newhouse at newhoused@michigan.org or 517.331.6715.

For more information, click here.

Expand into one of the world’s largest health care markets. MEDC is once again sponsoring a booth at Arab Health in the U.S. pavilion! Arab Health is the largest medical show in the Middle East with over 4,000 exhibitors from 70 countries and nearly 125,000 professionals attending from 163 countries. Each participating company will receive their own outward facing kiosk with a prominent presence to interact with conference traffic. Space is limited to 6-8 Michigan companies.

Cost: $2,500

Eligible Michigan SMEs can receive 50% reimbursement for travel expenses and participation fees from State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant.

For more information about this trade show, click here.

To see a full list of International Trade Program’s FY17 events, click here.

Incoterms Seminar

October 25, 2016

Troy, MI

8:30am- 1:00pm

$145/person

The East Michigan District Export Council is pleased to host Incoterms with Frank Reynolds, Presidential E-Award winning exporter and author of Incoterms for Americans. Mr. Reynolds is uniquely qualified to present the Incoterms seminar, having represented the United States at the 2000 and 2010 revisions. The program includes an overview of Incoterms 2010 and will address user feedback, cautions, and other issues that have arisen from the latest updates.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

How can you use incoterms to minimize your company's exposure, reduce risk, save money and even increase sales? Learn how to determine responsibilities between buyer and seller, through transfer of risk, insurance, documentary requirements and cost of freight through proper use of incoterms. This course will provide all handouts and materials needed.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

All exporters, compliance officers, trade lawyers, financial service providers, and accounts involved in international business, freight forwarders and logistics professionals, engineers, university officials, and anyone else who wants to demonstrate expertise in international trade.

To register, click here.

Leading International Distributors to Marketing and Sales Success

October 25, 2016

Webinar

2:00- 3:00 pm

Members free/ Non-members $10

Working with distributors can be a great way to enter foreign markets, gain new customers, and access new revenue streams. In my experience as an exporter and as an international business practitioner, I've realized that one of the most powerful ways for exporters to receive those benefits is training their new and current distributors to develop and execute high-impact marketing and sales programs.

When distributors receive marketing and sales training from the exporter, they gain confidence and a clear road map for action. This, in turn, sets up distributors to be effective in their marketing and sales efforts, gain market share and achieve their performance goals. The result should be successful, satisfied distributors that stay with the exporter for the long term.

In this session, attendees will learn critical elements of high-impact marketing and sales programs for international distributors and how to provide this training to new and current distributors. 

To register, click here.