The United States Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross presented Michigan State University’s International Business Center with the President’s “E” Award for Export Service. This award is the highest recognition any national entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports.
“The International Business Center has demonstrated a sustained commitment to export expansion. Our Awards Committee was impressed with the its case studies, which demonstrated measurable increases in its clients' exports,” Ross said. “MSU's International Business Center's achievements have undoubtedly contributed to national export expansion efforts that support the U.S. economy and create American jobs”
MSU’s International Business Center, located in the Broad College of Business, is a provider of export services for small and medium-sized U.S. businesses, including export counseling, strategic planning, customized market research, and training on a wide range of exporting and international business issues.
“Exporting is crucial to the success of U.S. businesses, especially those in Michigan, which are integral to global supply chains,” said Tomas Hult, Byington Endowed Chair, director of the International Business Center and professor of marketing. “Every day we see the growth of our clients’ businesses, due in large part to exporting. This growth has enabled the companies to add jobs and support their local communities as they expand their bottom line.”
In 2018, U.S. exports were the highest on record with U.S. services at $821.1 billion and U.S. exports of goods reaching $1.7 trillion, demonstrating how American private enterprise can not only survive, but thrive, in the international market.
“Exporting can be a significant challenge for small and mid-sized businesses, but there are great resources in our community that can help companies tap into foreign markets,” said Kendra Kuo, Director, U.S. Commercial Service in Grand Rapids. “MSU’s International Business Center’s innovative team of faculty, staff, and students, help businesses to compete globally. The U.S. Commercial Service frequently partners with MSU to offer trade education solutions. As a Spartan, I am proud of MSU’s consistent success in helping Michigan companies increase their export sales, and I believe their success exemplifies the spirit of the Department of Commerce’s E Award."
Forty-eight American companies are nominated for “E” Awards through the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service office network, located within the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. Record years of successive export growth and an applicant’s demonstration of an innovative international marketing plan that led to the increase in exports is a significant factor in selecting the overall winners.
For more information about the “E” Awards and the benefits of exporting, visit www.export.gov.