2013 International Trade Conferece

Posted by Tina Weyant

Our Annual International Trade Conference was held in conjunction with the York County Economic Alliance's International Business & Workforce Expo.   The Expo featured domestic and international businesses, representing a wide variety of industry sectors including manufacturing, healthcare, education and business services.

Part of the exhibit area was designated as the International Corner, marked by a huge 12x12 foot banner, and decorated with international flags.  This area was set aside for our sponsors and WTC members who chose to exhibit at the Expo and also featured exhibit tables for foreign embassies and bilateral trade promotion organizations. 

Sponsors for this year's conference included Global Leader level sponsor FTZ 147, Ambassador level sponsor UPS, and Diplomat level sponsors Fulton Bank International Group, Team PA Foundation and PA's Office of International Business Development


Our exhibitors went out of their way to showcase their countries, products and services:



Embassy of Belgium

Embassy of Indonesia

Africa Global Super Center



UPS Booth



Embassy of Bangladesh













Governor Corbett officially "opened" the Expo during Networking Night on May 7, right in the International Corner.  That evening, the WTC booth featured a variety of very tasty, internationally themed, appetizers and the international corner was packed.

















A special itinerary had been arranged for all foreign participants, which included a tour of York Wallcoverings on May 7 and a tour of Harley Davidson on May 8 before the Expo officially opened at 11 am. 

Ken Yang, PA's trade office
representative from Korea

Jason Rose, PA's investment
representative from Canada

Throughout the day of the Expo, we offered  a series of brief "trade topics" seminars in the International Corner. 



Vuyo Dunjwa on "Opportunities
in Sub-Saharan Africa"

Philadelphia Port Update
presented by Frank Camp 

Fulton Bank's Matt Blythe
"Fear no Export"
 

Representatives from 6 of Pennsylvania's overseas trade offices joined us for the conference as well.  Team members from the Brazil, China (Shanghai), Germany, Japan, Korea, and the UK offices participated and local companies that were interested in expanding their international presence could schedule one-on-one meetings with them on May 8. The schedules were completely filled and over 50 meetings took place!



WTC intern Cody Richard asks trade
 trivia question - YCEA President
Darrell Auterson is up to the challenge!

We entertained all visitors to the WTC booth with "trade trivia":  we asked participants to match a flag to the correct country and the price was a globe looking beach ball.

WTC intern Hannah poses
 with "DownTown",  the  mascot
for the York Revolution's



We could not have organized this type of event without the help and support from our Sponsors, exhibitors, speakers and volunteers.  A big thank you to everyone!!



WTC interns Cody and Hannah with
York College volunteer students who
helped throughout the Expo!!