It takes a personal touch to initiate some export sales. That’s why trade missions led by the state leadership can be so powerful.
And the trade mission led by Lieutenant Governor Brad Little to Latin America earlier this month is expected to reap large rewards. More than $30 million dollars worth.
Seventeen Idaho companies and organizations attended the trade mission that included visits to Sao Paulo, Brazil and Mexico City, Mexico.
Ground Force Manufacturing from Post Falls has attended trade missions in the past as well as this current one and has found the process “fruitful.” Ron Nilson, president and CEO, said the “new relationships and territories have become a major portion of our company’s business.” Ground Force received an order for a $1 million sale in Mexico and expects sales of up to $12 million from contacts made during the mission.
“Gaining direct access to CEOs of leading international companies is a powerful benefit of these trade missions,” said Jeffery Sayer, director of the Idaho Department of Commerce.
Nampa-based Industrial Ventilation went on a trade mission to Latin America in 2002 that resulted in $5 million in sales. The company joined this month's trade mission to continue to expand sales.
“We see Brazil as an attractive market for our products and we expect similar results over the next few years,” said Mark Machurek, sales and marketing manager.
