In December, Automation Alley, Michigan’s largest technology business association, helped six local companies make valuable business connections in two of the Middle East’s most promising markets for U.S. exports: Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.).
The trade mission included stops in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia and its largest city, and Dubai, U.A.E., the business hub of the Middle East. In addition to the six local companies, Macomb County government also participated in the trade mission.
“A key component of our trade mission program is arranging matchmaking meetings for these local companies with potential business partners overseas, including buyers and end-users of their products, services and technologies,” said Noel Nevshehir, director of international business services at Automation Alley. “Time and time again, we see that these missions yield a high return on investment for small to medium-sized companies and allow them to explore opportunities to expand and diversify into high-growth markets.”
To date, Automation Alley has led 162 local companies on 23 trade missions to locations around the globe, resulting in more than $428 million in export sales for those companies.
Participating companies included:
• American Souq, Milford
• Everlast Concrete Technologies, Farmington Hills
• LEID Products, Auburn Hills
• Panagon Systems, Macomb
• Sunrise Developers LLC, Troy
• TopDuck Products, LLC, Lansing
Cedric Townsel, owner and CEO of Sunrise Developers LLC, said joining the recent Automation Alley trade mission to the Middle East was the best thing he could have done to expand his business overseas.
“I had never thought of my company being global, and this trade mission was a great place to start, to make that happen. It made me see that growing my business outside the U.S. was just as attainable as growing in the States, and that there was a need for U.S. product in the Middle East,” Townsel said. “I was able to speak with various companies with different needs and goals, some that fell within my scope that I am currently speaking with to further see how our companies can benefit each other. It was a great time, with great people from Automation Alley as well as the people I met in the Middle East. I will be traveling there again soon.”
Sam Hoff, president of LEID Products, echoed those comments.
“We have a system in the region that was sold through the U.S. federal government. We are looking to leverage that installation by finding partner companies in the region to represent our company,” Hoff said. “We had several terrific initial meetings with companies that are aligned to the markets we serve. We are currently working with a couple of those companies in the investigation phase for potential projects.”
In addition to matchmaking abroad, Automation Alley hosts pre-mission workshops to educate participants about the opportunities and challenges of doing business around the world, including cultural idiosyncrasies and acceptable business practices.
Next up is Automation Alley’s trade mission to Chile and Colombia, May 2-9. Interested companies should ask about the State Trade and Export Promotion Program (STEP) to find out if they qualify for funding that can be applied toward the cost of the mission.
For more information, visit automationalley.com, or to register for an upcoming Automation Alley trade mission, contact Automation Alley International Business Services Manager Lisa Lasser at 248-457-3283 or lasserl@automationalley.com.
Source: Automation Alley