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Los Angeles Trade Connect Program Earns Presidential 'E Star' Award

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The Port of Los Angeles’ Trade Connect program has earned the President’s "E Star" award for Export Service. The port was among the 2013 honorees recognized for export sales or service during an "E" award ceremony on May 20 at U.S Department of Commerce headquarters in Washington, D.C.

U.S. companies are nominated for the "E" Award for Export Service through the Department of Commerce’s U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service office network. Criteria for the award are based on four years of successive export growth and case studies that demonstrate valuable support to exporters resulting in increased exports for the company’s clients. 
 
Trade Connect is an outreach program that offers a series of workshops to small and midsize American companies to educate them on the opportunities, costs and requirements of exporting their goods and services. Training ranges from introductory courses on the basics of commercial transactions, foreign markets, financing, documentation and logistics, to advanced seminars on international demand for specific products and emerging global consumer markets. Speakers include experts and trade representatives from key federal, state and local government agencies that promote and regulate trade. Professional associations such as the Los Angeles Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association also provide expert speakers.

The Port of Los Angeles launched Trade Connect in 2007 in response to the imbalance between U.S. spending on foreign goods and sales of U.S. products to international markets. This imbalance is reflected in ships leaving the port with load factors generally lower than 50 percent.  

Since its inception, Trade Connect has held more than 150 workshops and events attended by more than 15,000 people. The program also has participated in trade shows in Hong Kong and Japan and has drawn nearly 5,000 people to exhibits showcasing California companies and their products.

Workshops are offered throughout Southern California. According to the port, California’s food and beverage industry; fashion and accessories; medical, dental and veterinarian equipment and supplies; aerospace and aircraft parts; environmental remediation equipment; and health and beauty products have "tremendous potential" for export growth.

In response to a request from grain producers in the Midwest, Trade Connect staff conducted an introductory export workshop in Iowa in 2012. Also last year, Trade Connect offered its first workshop in Spanish. In April, it held its first workshop in Mandarin.

The honor allows the port to fly the award’s signature blue and white banner, display its certificate of commendation, wear and issue to employees an "E" lapel pin, and refer to the award in advertising Trade Connect programs.

This is the second time the Port of Los Angeles has received the President’s "E Star" Award for excellence in promoting export trade. The first was bestowed in 1983 by President Ronald Reagan.
 

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