Automation Alley invites Businesses on Trade Mission to Mexico

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TROY— Automation Alley, a technology business association, will lead a trade mission to Mexico in September to allow small and medium-sized businesses in Southeast Michigan to explore opportunities to expand their business overseas.

“We’re returning to Mexico for the third time because of its popularity with previous trade mission participants and the enormous amount of opportunity we see there for Southeast Michigan businesses,” says Noel Nevshehir, Automation Alley’s director of international business services.

Automation Alley has led 170 local companies on 24 trade missions to locations around the globe, resulting in $472 million in export sales for those companies. Prior to each trade mission, the association works with the Michigan Mexico Center to arrange matchmaking meetings for mission participants with potential clients, customers, end users, agent/distributors, join-venture partners, and technology licensees. Participants can expect to meet with two to three companies per day while on the mission.

Nevshehir says Mexico offers a number of advantages for companies looking to expand their business abroad. The country is Michigan’s second-largest market overseas, behind only Canada, with $10.8 billion in exports being shipped to Mexico alone last year. Latin America’s second-largest economy, Mexico has free trade agreements with 44 countries, including the North American Free Trade Agreement, providing U.S. companies with preferential access to an additional one billion consumers, or 60 percent of global gross domestic product.

Mexican industries with a particularly high demand for Michigan-made products, services and technologies include automotive and automotive components; aerospace; design, engineering and advanced manufacturing services; clean-tech and environmental; information technology and information communication technology; and medical.

In addition to matchmaking meetings, mission participants will also attend business receptions and meet with government officials and business leaders, who will share insights into the opportunities and challenges of doing business in Mexico.

The trip is planned for Sept. 20-25, making stops in Mexico City, Puebla, Querétaro, and Guanajuato. Deadline for businesses to apply is Aug. 14. For more information or to register, contact Lisa Lasser at 248-457-3283 or lasserl@automationalley.com.