GVSU receives $178,000 grant to educate local businesses on exporting to India, China

“This grant will help local businesses learn how to remain competitive with foreign businesses and hopefully help turn the tide of sending American jobs overseas,” said Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers, R-Grand Rapids. “Understanding the global marketplace and competition is the key to the survival and success of our businesses and it is important that we expose GVSU students to these concepts.”

GVSU’s ACCESS China/India project is a two-year effort that provides the tools and resources for the West Michigan business community to compete in the international marketplace and strengthens GVSU’s international Chinese and Indian education programs by creating and enhancing student and faculty initiatives.

The project is collaboration between GVSU, West Michigan companies and other regional organizations that support international trade. The collaboration creates a large support network designed to accomplish common objectives. The GVSU Van Andel Global Trade Center is located in the DeVos Center at 401 W. Fulton St.

“India and China are producing new consumers at an incredible rate, and their demand for products is only going to increase,” said Jeffrey Meyer, executive director of the Van Andel Global Trade Center. “We need to recognize the potential that they offer and adapt local business models to succeed in the new global economic reality.”

“The growing Indian and Chinese economies present tremendous opportunities for local businesses,” said U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland. “Local companies of all sizes need to understand the developing global marketplace to successfully compete and offer the career opportunities of the 21^st Century in West Michigan.”