APPALACHIA USA is a strategic initiative engaging the businesses, communities, and people of the Appalachian Region in the global economy of the 21st century. Drawing on Appalachia’s plentiful natural resources, the quality of its workforce, and the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit of its businesses, APPALACHIA USA is strengthening the Region’s competitive presence in the worldwide marketplace and increasing export sales and related employment opportunities. The global synergy created through the Appalachian Regional Commission’s (ARC) Export Trade Advisory Council and the cooperation of Appalachia’s 13 member states, 72 local development districts, and 23 million residents is positioning the Region as a formidable and increasingly respected competitor in international markets.

Building a Global Foundation

In 2006 ARC organized a delegation of business, civic, and education leaders from across Appalachia committed to building stronger commercial and cultural ties with Asia and the Pacific Rim. Representing 45 Appalachian businesses and organizations, the 53-member delegation promoted the Region’s furniture, wood product, and home furnishing sectors at the 2006 China International Furniture Expo in Shanghai, China. The delegation included representatives from both Virginia Tech and Mississippi State University. The APPALACHIA USA delegation generated $1.4 million of new product sales and established important businesses and institutional partnerships between Appalachian and Asian business, economic development, and educational interests. The 2006 Appalachia USA China delegation was organized for the Region through the North Carolina Department of Commerce with assistance from the U.S. Commercial Service.

2007 Worldwide Initiatives

APPALACHIA USA will support three important trade events during 2007, featuring trade shows and missions focused at India, China, and Australia. With financial support from ARC, each activity will offer unique opportunities for the Region’s business, civic, and education leaders to better acquaint themselves with both the challenges and opportunities presented in these overseas markets. Each activity will further strengthen Appalachia’s competitive presence on the global playing field.

ASIA and the Pacific Rim: September 10 – 16, 2007

Encouraged by the success of 2006, an APPALACHIA USA delegation will again showcase the Region’s world class furniture, home furnishing, and hardwood forest products at the 2007 China International Furniture Expo in Shanghai. Delegation members will be offered a special seminar on conducting business in China and will staff the Appalachia USA Pavilion at the Shanghai New International Expo Center, one of Asia’s largest and most important trade venues. The 2007 APPALACHIA USA China delegation is again being organized for the Region through the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

INDIA: September 19-29 2007

APPALACHIA USA is supporting a trade mission to India to help the Region’s wood product sector position itself in this quickly emerging marketplace. The mission will feature educational seminars and workshops to better acquaint Appalachian business leaders with the Indian marketplace and promote the quality, technical specifications, and world-class reputation of the Region’s hardwood forest products to prospective Indian buyers. One-on-one business meetings will also help Appalachian firms establish new business relationships with Indian customers. The ten day mission will feature visits to Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore/Mysore and is being directed by the Hardwood States Export Group.

AUSTRALIA: November 12-16 2007

An APPALACHIA USA trade mission to Australia will feature meetings and workshops in both Melbourne and Sydney and is designed to help small and medium-sized companies develop export opportunities in this growing market. Reflecting Appalachia’s economic diversity, the Australia mission will feature opportunities for a variety of business sectors. Importantly, this mission will take advantage of new markets made possible by the United States-Australia Fee Trade Agreement. Mission participants can organize their own optional trips to New Zealand and/or Perth either before or after the Appalachia USA mission. Mission activities will include in-country briefings, pre-arranged one-to-one business appointments, and a special Appalachia USA reception. The delegation is open to business, civic, education, economic development officials, and other interested parties from throughout Appalachia. The APPALACHIA USA Australia mission is being organized for the Region by the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

For more detailed information on these events, contact Mr. David Hughes (202)-884-7740 or dhughes@arc.gov or Mr. Scott Hercik at 202-884-7717 or shercik@arc.gov

Export Trade Promotion: the Export Trade Advisory Council