It is expected to be the
largest trades show ever to be held on Guam, and it will certainly highlight
the growth in the island's trade industry. The 2013 Guam Export Trade
Show (GETS) will be held on Saturday, September 21 at the University of Guam
Fieldhouse. GETS will feature many of the island's businesses and
products, and the hope is to link them with potential buyers, both local and
international.
This year will be the
second annual event hosted by the Guam Economic Development Authority (GEDA)
and the UOG Guam Small Business Development Center (SBDC) with a goal to enroll
50 conference participants and 100 trade show participants.
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| Elyse Eriksson teaches "The Riddle of the Exporter" last year (2012) at the Hyatt Regency Guam. |
"Last year's event was
highly successful, with 50 local vendors showcasing their products and
services, and this year's event is expected to have double the participation,"
according to GEDA Administrator, Henry J. Taitano. "This is a prime
opportunity to link our local entrepreneurs with international buyers, helping
them market their products, and in effect, helping to grow our island's trade
industry."
As part of the tradeshow GEDA
and the Guam SBDC will also host "Export University 101," which will
be a comprehensive training session that will cover all major aspects of
exporting, and will offer tips in developing global strategies for small
businesses. This will include materials and information to help them
create their international business plan.
As part of “Export
University 101”, presentations will be given by Kevin Craft, president and
founder of Tradewinds Global, an award winning management and marketing company,
focusing on the export development and placement of consumer brands throughout
the Pacific Rim and Lesley Harvey, Project Director for Hawaii's Pacific Export
Council.
"The 'Export
University Series' will provide useful tools to help small businesses that are
new to exporting, as well as those with a blossoming international business,
grow their global business," Taitano added, "which is the intent of
the GETS event and the STEP Grant program."
The State Trade and Export
Promotions (STEP) Grant, was established through the Small Business Jobs Act of
2010. It is a 3-year trade and export pilot, which is intended to assist
eligible small businesses. It also ties into President Barrack Obama's
National Export Initiative, which seeks to double the amount of exports in the
next 5 years, to increase the number of small businesses that export, as well
as increase the value of exports for small businesses that are currently
involved in exporting.
It was last year, GEDA
received an additional $227,445 in STEP Grant funding, and much of that money
has been successfully spent on helping local businesses enter into the export
industry. GEDA has also integrated its Guam Product Seal Program, and Buy
Local Initiative, into its plan, in an effort to better expand local products
and services into foreign markets.
"Our GPS clients will
be a big focus during this year's trade show, and we are sure they will benefit
from the opportunity to market their products," according to Tina Garcia
GEDA's Business Development Manager.
Guam Product Seal clients
who are also STEP grant clients include Grow Guam, Coco Jo's, Island Memories,
B &O Sausages and Cruz Best Foods to name a few.
GETS 2013 will highlight
local produce, with a real effort to expand our local farm industry. "There
has been a real interest in local produce," said Garcia, who is also
planning to attend a food export trade mission in Hong Kong. "We
have investors in Hong Kong, who are looking at Guam, to provide produce for
their hotels and restaurants."
"Places like Hong
Kong, are always looking for sources of fresh, clean produce, and so this is
just another prime opportunity to export goods, and help our local
farmers." GEDA will be participating in the largest Hong Kong food
expo in August.
Tourism has been the
island's number one industry, and tourism related products and services will
also be highlights during the GETS show. Guam's tourism and trade
makes up for a large percentage of the island's export industry, and the event
is also beneficial in expanding the tourism market as well.
Export University 101 will
be held on Thursday, September 19, 2013 and Friday, September 20, 2013 at the
UOG School of Business and Public Administration, room number 129. To register go to http://tinyurl.com/GETSU2013. For more information on
this conference, please call the Guam SBDC at 735-2590.
The Guam Export Trade Show
will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2013, at the University of Guam Field
House. The first couple of hours will be open for buyers and traders only, but
after noon, it will be open to the public. Up to 100 exhibits featuring
Guam based businesses in the Tourism industry, Farmers Coop, local wholesalers
and manufacturers will be featured. Guam businesses can register as an
exhibitor at www.gets.eventbrite.com.
For more
information on the trade show, contact GEDA's offices at 647-4332 or visit
their website at www.investguam.com.
