Appalachian Regional Commission Supports U.S. Department of Commerce Efforts to Bring the National Export Initiative to Rural Exporters

CHARLESTON, W.Va., Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Trade Winds Forum, an official U.S. Department of Commerce trade mission and regional trade conference, will be held in Mexico City, Mexico, April 6-12, 2011. Participation in Trade Winds Forum is the first step to tap into this $238 billion regional export market.  In an effort to support the National Export Initiative and extend global business opportunities to rural Appalachian companies, the Appalachian Regional Commission is offering a 50% discount to those eligible companies located within the Appalachian region.

The discounted fee of $825 includes:

• Admission to all conference sessions offering market intelligence and entry strategies
• Customized business-to-business meetings with pre-screened companies in Mexico's most industrialized cities—Mexico City, Guadalajara & Monterrey
• Pre-arranged consultations with Commercial Attaches from North, Central, and South America
• Access to high visibility business networking events with leading industry and government officials

The Americas, comprised of more than 20 countries, is the United States' fastest growing regional trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $522 billion last year.  Mexico in particular is our third largest trading partner worldwide, with bilateral trade surpassing $305 billion.  As a neighboring country, a stable democracy, and a member of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Mexico is a natural market for U.S. exporters.

The Appalachian Region is a 205,000-square-mile region that follows the spine of the Appalachian Mountains from southern New York to northern Mississippi. It includes all of West Virginia and parts of 12 other states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a regional economic development agency that represents a partnership of federal, state, and local government.

SOURCE U.S. Department of Commerce