MONTGOMERY - Governor Bob Riley on Thursday outlined the state’s strategy to continue growing the economy through exports during a ceremony at the State Capitol where he also honored seven Alabama companies for their success in exporting and the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce.
Governor Riley launched the state’s trade promotion effort in 2004 called Export Alabama. The statewide initiative is designed to expand access for Alabama goods in foreign markets and includes the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as a partner.
Since the launch of Export Alabama, 17 trade missions to 19 countries have taken place. Forty trade agreements were reached during those trade missions resulting in more than $64 million in expected sales from Alabama companies and the creation of almost 1,000 jobs.
More than 3,000 businesses in Alabama sell their products and services overseas. These businesses create and sustain more than 100,000 jobs in Alabama.
Alabama has seen remarkable growth in exports over the past few years. The value of Alabama exports has risen from $8.3 billion in 2003 to $16 billion last year.
Selling Alabama products in growing markets such as India, Vietnam and the Middle East and in countries that have trade agreements with the U.S. is a key part of the state’s 2009 trade strategy
“We must not retreat from international markets. This is the very moment we need to capture the growth opportunities of these markets,” Governor Riley said.
“When we joined forces with Governor Riley and the Alabama Development Office in 2004 to launch the Export Alabama Initiative, we all shared the vision that international trade is critical to Alabama’s economy. Now five years later, that vision has resulted in new and better jobs, increased competitiveness, and a 76 percent growth in Alabama’s exports to the world. It is the most successful Governor-led trade program in the United States and we are proud to be part of it,” said Leslie Schweitzer, Senior Trade Advisor with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Trade missions scheduled for 2009 include one to Colombia and others led by the Governor to India, Australia and the United Arab Emirates.
During the event at the State Capitol, Governor Riley also honored seven Alabama companies and the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce with the Governor’s Trade Excellence Award. The award was created in 2005 to recognize Alabama’s successful exporters as role models for the Alabama business community.
Award winners were nominated from industries within the manufacturing, service and agribusiness sectors, and were selected by the Export Alabama Alliance based on:
- Innovations in exporting
- Level of export sales as a proportion of total sales
- Sustainable growth in export sales
- Use of export assistance services from the Export Alabama Alliance
The seven companies recognized as winners of the Governor’s Trade Excellence Award were:
- Atrion Medical Products based in Arab
- Moreson Conferencing based in Birmingham
- Nidek Medical Products based in Birmingham
- N-TRON Corp. based in Mobile
- PlayCore based in Fort Payne
- PPG Industries based in Huntsville
- Rescue One Connector Boats based in Huntsville