Milwaukee-area businesses interested in learning more about exporting in Western Europe are invited to attend a free presentation hosted by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce’s World Trade Association on Thursday, Sept. 25, from 8 to 10 a.m.
Continental breakfast will be served.
The program will feature Peter Sanders, WEDC’s trade representative for Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, who will discuss market opportunities and business trends in the region. WEDC staff also will be on hand to provide information on exporting and answer questions.
With its geographic location, the Netherlands is the ideal point of entry for companies seeking to export in the region, while Germany offers extensive opportunities because of its economic strength and position within the European Union, according to the WEDC. In 2013, Wisconsin exports to Germany topped $700 million, making the country the state’s fifth largest export destination. Wisconsin exports to Germany have jumped 7 percent in the first six months of 2014. The top state exports to Germany are industrial machinery, medical and scientific equipment, and chemical products.
Belgium ranked 14th in Wisconsin export destinations with $384 million, and the Netherlands was 15th with $379 million in 2013. Both countries are major logistic hubs with important warehousing and distribution centers that move Wisconsin-made goods to other parts of Europe and strong domestic demand for products, the WEDC said. Luxembourg, a country of just 543,000, bought more than $18 million worth of Wisconsin products in 2013.
The free program will be held at the MMAC offices, 756 N. Milwaukee St. in Milwaukee. The event is free, but advance registration is recommended. Those interested in attending should register here or contact Katie Henry at khenry@mmac.org or (414) 287-4123. For more information on the program, contact Stanley Pfrang at (608) 210–6777 or stanley.pfrang@wedc.org.
