"Bringing the World to YOU!" Success

Posted by Alicia Roberto, Intern

Jan getting the registration
table ready for check in!

In conjunction with World Trade PA, our 16th annual "Bringing the World to YOU!" event was held at The Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Reading on September 18th.  The event attracted numerous representatives from Pennsylvania's overseas trade offices and provided companies from the southcentral region the opportunity to schedule individual appointments to discuss international business expansion.  We look forward to this event each year, despite endless hours of pre-event planning and post-event follow up, as it proves to be more and more successful each year.  All of Pennsylvania's trade reps are easy to get along with and enjoyable to work with.  The day is not complete without laughter and smiles from all attendees.  

One-on-one meetings between companies and trade reps.

Here are this year's event numbers:

• 105 attendees
• 20 overseas trade representatives
• 35 different companies
• 177 meetings between companies and trade representatives

Keynote speaker Mr. Yamada.

In addition to the one-on-one meetings with trade reps, the event included a luncheon program that featured a presentation on "Opportunities Despite Challenges in Brazil".  Fabio Yukio Yamada, Director of the Pennsylvania Trade Office in Brazil, was our keynote speaker.  Fabio was appointed PA's authorized trade rep in July 2001, and has since assisted over one hundred companies every year in their efforts to export to Brazil.  During his presentation, Fabio presented a snapshot of Brazil, opportunities that exist, and an overview of the challenges of getting into the Brazilian market, such as tariffs, market access, etc.  He also elaborated on how Pennsylvanian companies have been successful and how they have been able to enter the market in the past.  A noteworthy video was shown during the presentation that offered insight and helpful tips for doing business in Brazil. (The link is here)

The luncheon program also provided additional networking
opportunities among attendees. 

This year's "Bringing the World to YOU!" event proved to be an overwhelming success, as all attendees were able to create valuable relationships with overseas representatives.  It is our hope that these newly developed trade leads will prosper tremendously in the near future.  

Hannah, Tina and Jan

We would like to extend a special 'thank you' to UPS, the event's silver level sponsor, and to central Pennsylvania's Foreign-Trade Zone #147, the event's bronze level sponsor, for their continued support.  Furthermore, the program would not have been possible without our partnership with MANTEC.