Companies can Learn how to Increase Sales Through Exporting by Attending April 11 Program Co-Sponsored by Southern U.S. Trade Association

"New Markets, New Jobs: The National Export Initiative Small-Business Tour" Is Designed to Help Double U.S. Exports Over Five Years

NEW ORLEANS, April 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-US Newswire/ -- In a step designed to help southern U.S. companies develop international markets for their high-quality food and agricultural goods, the Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA) is helping to present the April 11 New Orleans edition of a national program called, "New Markets, New Jobs: The National Export Initiative Small-Business Tour."

"SUSTA has helped produce significant accomplishments for participating companies from all 16 member states." Jerry Hingle, SUSTA Executive Director.

SUSTA Executive Director Jerry Hingle, along with three other experts on the topic, will help lead a breakout session at 1:30 p.m. that day on the subject of exporting food and agricultural products. The event, which takes place at the Tulane University Lavin-Bernick Student Center on McAllister Drive, begins with an 8 a.m. registration.

Other features of the day-long program include a trade resource panel providing practical information on resources available to help small and medium-sized companies sell their products in overseas markets, a markets resource panel covering the Central America Free Trade Agreement and the attractiveness of the Caribbean as an export market, panels on export financing in Louisiana and on exporting oil and gas equipment and services, and others. Highlights also include comments from U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Small Business Administration Associate Administrator Luz Hopewell, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and others.

Among SUSTA programs that help producers increase their sales through exporting are the Generic Industry Promotions program, which provides an ideal introduction to foreign markets by allowing companies to take part in SUSTA trade show pavilions, group trade missions and product demonstrations, all at a fraction of the cost companies would experience alone.

Also, through SUSTA's Market Access Program (MAP) Branded, companies can be reimbursed up to 50 percent for eligible expenses, including overseas travel and exhibit fees for their own trade show booths, as well as costs for product labeling and advertising. These programs focus on helping small businesses find and develop new export markets for their products.

"For example, so far in 2011 we've taken seven U.S. companies to a major trade show in Essen, Germany, to showcase their nursery products. The companies collectively made more than $517,000 in sales and expect another $750,000 in sales over the next 12 months as a result of their participation there with SUSTA," Hingle noted.

The national tour, which already has traveled to Minneapolis and Los Angeles, supports the federal government's National Export Initiative, which is designed to double U.S. exports over the next five years. "Recent studies have shown that for every MAP dollar spent by government and industry on export development, U.S. exports rose by $35, delivering a 35-to-1 return on investment," said Bernadette Wiltz, deputy director and international marketing director for SUSTA.

The cost of registration for the April 11 program is $35 per person. Those interested in attending may go online to http://wtcno.org/qs30/products.php?pid=109&detail=true or contact Eliza Brierre at (504) 619-9834 or at [email protected].

SUSTA is a non-profit trade development association composed of the Departments of Agriculture of the 15 southern states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Since 1973, its programs and services have assisted exporters of high-value food and agricultural products. SUSTA is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), its member states and private companies.

SOURCE Southern U.S. Trade Association