Thunderbird will host the ACCESS 2012 International Trade Forum, an elite global conference led by the U.S. Commercial Service April 24-25. Trade representatives from 18 different countries across Africa, the Middle East and South Asia will be represented. Current Thunderbird students are eligible to attend at the discounted rate of $300. Those interested can email Leticia Barreto at leticia.barreto@thunderbird.edu for the special access code.
ACCESS 2012 marks the first time Arizona has hosted a U.S. Department of Commerce business development conference dedicated exclusively to opportunities for American companies eager to find customers in north and sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and India. U.S. exporters are building momentum in these markets — for example; American exports of manufactured goods to Africa were up 15% in 2011. Arizona companies saw even sharper growth — 46%.
Exports are a substantial and growing part of the U.S. economy, accounting for 12.5 percent of our nation’s GDP. For corporate executives and business owners looking to tap into the global marketplace, ACCESS 2012 provides a unique opportunity to gain insight from senior U.S. Commercial Service officers serving in some of the world’s fastest growing economies.
Senior Commercial Officers from the following countries will attend ACCESS 2012:
Algeria
Angola
Botswana
Cameroon
Egypt
Ghana
India
Iraq
Israel
Jordan
Kenya
Kuwait
Lebanon
Libya
Morocco
Nigeria
Pakistan
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
South Africa
United Arab Emirates
U.S. exports of goods and services totaled $1.83 trillion in 2010. However, less than one percent of America’s 30 million companies export — a percentage significantly lower than all other developed countries. Of those U.S. companies that do export, 58 percent export to only one country. According to International Trade Administration officials, many businesses could benefit from learning more about international business and trade opportunities and resources available to help.
Attendees can expect to learn how the U.S. Commercial Service helps U.S. exporters target and gain access to international markets. The conference agenda will cover both industry-specific and country-specific information and will address broader topics such as marketing strategies, financing, and mitigating risk. Forum participants will discuss the recent political unrest and threat of regime change sweeping across North Africa and the Middle East, as well as potential consequences for exporters.
For more information and to register, please visit http://export.gov/arizona/access2012/index.asp