Trade mission to India will also include business visits with manufacturers and health sciences companies

Wilmington – Governor Jack Markell announced today that he will lead a trade mission to India from Wednesday, February 6, through Saturday, February 16, 2013 .  Invited by the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), India’s premier IT industry association, to speak at its annual Leadership Forum in Mumbai on February 13^th, Governor Markell will address over 1500 participants from nearly 25 countries, followed by one-on-one meetings with several CEOs and company chairpersons.  The Forum, which will focus on the theme of partnerships and global growth, is among the most prestigious international IT conferences for the growing IT sector in India.

As part of his trip, the State of Delaware is working with the Confederation of Indian Industry, a leading industry association across India, and the Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises, the top biotechnology industry association, to schedule meetings in Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai with manufacturers and health sciences companies.

“Indian companies continue to expand their operations in the United States, and we want them to know Delaware has an outstanding IT workforce.  We are leading the country in developing cyber security personnel and have much to offer a prospective company,” said Governor Markell.  “We want international business managers looking to locate or expand their businesses to consider locating in Delaware.”

The Governor will be promoting Delaware’s high-caliber workforce, convenient location, and reasonable cost of living as he meets with several business leaders and their company representatives at the conference.

According to a report published by NASSCOM in 2012, Indian IT companies directly employ 107,000 people in the U.S., up from 58,000 in 2006.  These jobs indirectly support many others through local suppliers, re-spending and tax payments.  Several Indian companies have announced plans to expand employment for U.S. workers over the next few years.

Similar to his previous trips, the Governor will utilize social media to stay in communication with Delawareans. He will participate in a Google+ hangout with students from Delcastle Technical High School, who are working on a project to learn about international social media and trade with India.  The class will communicate with people in Delaware and India over the next several weeks to encourage engagement via Twitter and Facebook. During the Google+ Hangout, they will brief the Governor on their research results.

“Delaware has a world-class IT workforce and an exceptionally strong social media community,” said Governor Markell.  “Social media is a way for our students and our broader community to raise Delaware’s profile in India.  I applaud their efforts to help us communicate beyond our borders.”

Governor Markell will be accompanied by Secretary of Transportation Shailen Bhatt and Felicia Pullam, Deputy Director for International Trade.  Secretary Bhatt previously traveled to India in 2010 representing the Federal Highway Administration to meet with government and business officials interested in furthering cooperation on transportation issues.  Also, University of Delaware President Dr. Patrick Harker will join the trade mission in Mumbai.   The University of Delaware enjoys a strong reputation in India for its chemical engineering department.

Week-long economic development and goodwill visits documented via real-time technology

(Wilmington, DE)  As part of his week-long economic development and goodwill trip to Japan and Korea, and in lieu of his regularly scheduled weekly message, Governor Markell participated in two Google+ Hangout events while overseas. On Tuesday, December 11, he participated in a hangout from Japan with Japanese language students at Appoquinimink High School and members of the media. The Governor discussed the purpose of his international trip and the exchange with Miyagi Governor Yoshihiro Murai, which acknowledged 15 years of sister state relations between Delaware and Miyagi.

“The way we do business has fundamentally changed with the increasing use of these technologies,” said Governor Markell. “The more familiar our young people are with these tools and the more they are given the opportunity to use them in the classroom, the greater their chance of success will be when they go to compete for jobs in a global economy.”

Later that week, on Friday, December 14, he and Agriculture Secretary Ed Kee participated in a hangout from Korea with University of Delaware staff, members of Delaware’s agriculture community and media at the University of Delaware’s Carvel Research and Education Center in Georgetown, DE. The Governor discussed his visit with Harim Group, the leading agribusiness in Korea, which bought Delaware-owned Allen Family Food in 2011. He also discussed a visit he had with leaders and members of the Korean Chamber of Commerce.

“We are part of a global market,” said Governor Markell. “In order to make sure Delaware companies have as many opportunities as possible to export and expand their products, we must continually work to strengthen relationships with others around the world.”

“Nearly one-third of the world population lives within the band that includes Korea, Japan, China and Indonesia,” said Secretary Kee. “As we, in Delaware, continue to explore new ways to service that population with our exports, it is important we take advantage of opportunities to conduct business and communicate with our global customers.”

Beyond business development and goodwill opportunities for Delaware, this trip also offered a chance to try new technology. In addition to the Google+ hangout sessions, the Governor officially launched his Instagram account on this trip, posting photos of various scenes; and he used a Google Map to document his whereabouts with photos, videos and pinpointed information.

MILFORD – On December 7, U.S. Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) visited The Soap Fairy, a manufacturer of handcrafted soaps that takes part in the Small Business Administration’s State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Program. Nationally and in Delaware, exports are a growing part of the small business economy. The U.S. Small Business Administration supports this initiative through its Export Loan program and grants authorized by the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, under the State Trade and Export Promotion Program (STEP).

The Delaware STEP grant was nearly $250 thousand last year and another $187 thousand has been authorized for 2013 to be used to help Delaware small businesses start or increase exports. The participants from 2012 have already identified opportunities for more than $3 million in additional sales.

“Exports create jobs in Delaware–that’s what this program is about,” said Governor Markell. “The STEP initiative provides efficient tools to help hardworking small business owners find new opportunities for growth. We’re excited to continue our partnership with the SBA and many local organizations.”

“Programs like this one that make it easier for small businesses to take advantage of global customers are important to our recovering economy,” said Sen. Carper. “The role of government is to create a nurturing environment for business growth, and this is a great example of the government providing small business with the tools to grow.”

“Small businesses like The Soap Fairy have access to growing international markets will help create good jobs and drive our economic recovery,” Senator Coons said. “Small Business Administration programs like the Delaware STEP grant are imperative to give the boost our small businesses need to expand into overseas markets.”

The STEP program aligns with President Obama’s National Export Initiative to double U.S. exports in five years – and in so doing, create two million jobs. The program provides federal government funding for 65 to75 percent of program costs, with states supplying the remainder.

The funding will support participation in foreign trade missions, sales trips, services provided by the Department of Commerce, website translations fees, design of international marketing media, trade show exhibitions, training workshops, and other critical export initiatives.

The SBA Export Loan program assists small businesses by providing a number of loan programs specifically designed to help them develop or expand their export activities.

Small businesses seeking assistance under the STEP program will find more information at http://itc.sos.delaware.gov/services/step.shtml and more information on the SBA Export loan program can be found at http://www.sba.gov/content/export-loan-programs.

Hear directly from more of the 2012 STEP participants in this video, produced by Mobius New Media: http://youtu.be/aYFrENBhS68.

Markell, Coons at Port of Wilmington

Fresh Clementines & Continued Cargo Growth Support Port Jobs

Wilmington – Governor Jack Markell, Senator Chris Coons and other Delaware officials today welcomed Ambassador Mohamed Rachad Bouhlal of the Kingdom of Morocco to the Port of Wilmington.

“It’s a great honor to be here today to welcome the arrival of these clementines and to celebrate the increasingly strong economic partnership– a partnership that this shipment symbolizes– between Morocco and the United States,” said Ambassador Rachad Bouhlal.

The Port of Wilmington is the exclusive port of entry for clementines from Fresh Fruit Maroc – the leading consortium representing Moroccan produce exporters. The cargo brings in $5.6 million in annual revenue and is responsible for approximately 100 quality jobs.

“Moroccan cargo has employed people here in Delaware for more than a decade,” said Governor Markell.  “We’re pleased to have the opportunity to thank Ambassador Bouhlal and the team from Fresh Fruit Maroc. Our trade with Morocco is thriving and I look forward to continuing our partnership, creating jobs and keeping Americans supplied with healthy produce all winter.”

The previous clementine season, which ran from late October 2011 through February 2012, saw 22,964 tons of clementines enter the Port of Wilmington, a 114% increase over the previous year.

“Cultivating positive trade relationships is key to growing Delaware’s economy,” Senator Chris Coons said. “The Moroccan cargo that comes through the Port of Wilmington generates millions in revenue in the U.S. every year and supports jobs right here in Delaware. I am pleased to help welcome Ambassador Bouhlal and the team from Fresh Fruit Maroc to Delaware today, and to help continue to develop this flourishing partnership.” Senator Coons is chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs.

The delegation was joined by Agriculture Secretary Edwin Kee and Delaware State Housing Authority Secretary Anas Ben Addi, who is originally from Morocco and played a key role in facilitating the relationship with Ambassador Bouhlal.  Secretary Alan Levin, who is Chair of the Diamond State Port Corporation, led the tour of the Port.

“We are fortunate to have the top seaport for fruit and the largest on-dock cold storage complex in North America,” said Secretary Levin

In the 2011-2012 season, Fresh Fruit Maroc inaugurated a breakbulk clementine program, instead of containers, for the U.S. market.  Using the Port’s cold treatment facilities and expertise to comply with USDA import protocol, this change significantly improved the reliability of delivery times to U.S.-based marketing and distribution companies..  “From Delaware, Moroccan clementines can reach more than 200 million North American consumers in less than 24 hours.  Efforts by Fresh Fruit Maroc, Port personnel and companies like LGS Sales to find innovative ways to improve efficiency have been key to growth.”

Since this trade partnership commenced in 2000, Fresh Fruit Maroc and their growers have shipped more than 242,000 pallets of clementines, with a commercial value exceeding $345 million.

Port of Wilmington, Delaware’s Trade with Morocco
Fact Sheet

The Port of Wilmington, Delaware

• A 308 acre, 10 berth multi-purpose, modern marine terminal located at the confluence of the Delaware and Christina Rivers.
• Owned and operated by the Diamond State Port Corp.
• North America’s #1 fruit, juice concentrates and tropical fruit seaport.
• A major distribution center providing an overnight delivery to 200 million North American consumers of fruit and juice.
• North America’s largest on-dock cold storage complex aggregating 800,000 sf. (74,322m²).

Trade Partnership with Morocco

• The Port of Wilmington is the exclusive discharge port for Fresh Fruit Maroc (FFM) clementines in North America.
• Since start-up of this trade in the year 2000, FFM and their growers and exporters have shipped to the Port of Wilmington over 242,000 pallets of Moroccan clementines with a commercial value exceeding $345 million.
• The Moroccan clementine import season spans the period from late October through January or February.
• Moroccan clementines are transported to the Port palletized and carried onboard specialized reefer ships, discharged upon arrival, stored in the Port’s refrigerated warehouses and distributed by truck to premier retailers in Canada and in the U.S.
• Economic impact of Moroccan cargo imports via the Delaware’s seaport:
  • 100 family sustaining jobs
  • $5.6 million in annual business revenue
  • $5.3 million in annual personal income
  • $0.5 million in annual state & regional tax

The delegation also held a Sendai Miso Dinner at Dogfish Head’s Rehoboth Beach restaurant to promote Miyagi’s Sendai soy product, even creating a beer with it, wakame (a seaweed) and yuzu (a Japanese fruit). Sendai Miso is a soy bean paste that is unique because of its red color and softened saltiness. It is from Sendai, the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture.

“The Dogfish team had a great time hosting the delegation and 60 lucky guests for a Miso-themed beer dinner,” said Matt Patton, assistant manager at Dogfish Head Brewings and Eats. “We learned a lot about Miyagi prefecture and their famous Sendai Miso. We hope to continue our cultural and  commercial exchange well into the future.”

In addition, the officials visited three schools to express appreciation for their support of disaster relief efforts and to report the progress of Miyagi’s recovery. Because of the notable outpouring of support from students and the school community, the delegation visited Dover High School, Middletown High School and Appoquinimink High School which had all held fundraising events to benefit Miyagi’s recovery. Overall, $101,000 was raised across Delaware to support the “Delaware Fund for Miyagi”.

A long-standing component of the sister-state relationship has been educational exchanges, which were put on hold due to the earthquake and tsunami last March. They will restart next month with a group of Miyagi students coming to Delaware. Delaware students will travel to Miyagi later this year.