The U.S. Commercial Service’s weeklong trade and diplomatic mission to India and Bangladesh led by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce featured fourteen Maryland-based firms.
The Trade Winds Indo-Pacific Forum and Mission, which takes place in New Delhi, India
May 6 – 13 focuses on building business international trade relationships and connections between U.S. and Indian firms and increasing investment between the two countries. Participating companies also have the opportunity to travel to Bangladesh to expand their connections and sales in the broader Indo-Pacific region. Mission stops in India also include Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata.
“The opportunity to showcase Maryland’s diverse and talented companies on an international level is exciting,” said Colleen Fisher, Director of U.S. Commercial Service Baltimore. “Events like Trade Winds allow our team to put Maryland on display and show how our advanced companies – which sell products ranging from environmental solutions to defense technologies –provide solutions across the globe.”
The fourteen Maryland companies traveling to Trade Winds are :
- Air Clear, a manufacturer of air pollution control equipment;
- Earth Networks, a leader in network-based lightning detection, weather observation and alerting services;
- ECOBiotix, an environmental solutions firm focused on bioremediation;
- Ellicott Dredges, a dredge manufacturer;
- Ennoble First, an information technology solutions and services provider
- Hawkeye Medical, a distributor of medical supplies and equipment;
- Orbis Technologies, a content management software solutions developer;
- Roach Technologies, a technology solutions provider focused on digital journeys;
- Thales Defense & Security, a tactical radios and defense electronics manufacturer;
- TRACE, an anti-bribery business organization and provider of third party risk management solutions;
- University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, an institution of higher education;
- W. R. Grace, a manufacturer of high-performance specialty chemicals and materials; and
- VakSea, a manufacturer of immune-boosting proteins for aquaculture.
Throughout the week, the Maryland delegation meets with Indian government officials, as well as prospective business partners from large multinational corporations and small businesses. The trade conference kicks off today with a reception hosted by the U.S. Ambassador to India and remarks from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. More than 300 business leaders and officials from Maryland, throughout the U.S., and India attended the reception.
“Our goal at the U.S. Department of Commerce is to use every available resource to ensure fair and reciprocal trade for U.S. businesses selling their products and services all over the world,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “Trade Winds is an important component of these efforts.”
Trade Winds, now in its 11th year, has directly supported more than $3.4 billion in U.S. exports in over 40 countries, and in 2018, U.S. exports of goods and services to the Indo-Pacific were more than $476 billion. In 2017, the mission brought 100 companies to Southeast Europe and accounted for more than $3 billion in U.S. exports. Thus far, Trade Winds has helped U.S. companies conduct over 4,000 pre-vetted, business-to-business meetings and over 6,000 government-to-business meetings around the world.
“The potential for growth in U.S.-India trade is enormous given the size of our economies,” said Kenneth I. Juster, U.S. Ambassador to India. “Exports of U.S. goods and services to India reached $58.9 billion in 2018. I look forward to hearing of future successes from the companies taking part in Trade Winds.”
Maryland companies will also meet with U.S. commercial diplomats from throughout the Indo-Pacific region to develop a strategy to penetrate the broader Asian markets. Several of the companies attending Trade Winds were awarded ExportMD grants from Maryland Commerce.
About the International Trade Administration
The U.S. Commercial Service, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, offers a full range of expertise in business international trade relationships, and is in more than 100 offices nationwide and in more than 70 offices overseas.