USA – The exhibition industry has a golden opportunity this month to urge the federal government to make regulatory changes that will help exhibitions make a greater contribution to US exports.
The Department of Commerce is taking comments from stakeholders on the National Export Initiative (NEI) until 26 July. The comments, which are being solicited from companies, industry associations and other interested parties, will be used to put together a comprehensive plan to meet the NEI’s goal of doubling national exports within five years.
According to EW’s US partner Trade Show Executive, the domestic exhibition industry has stated publicly that exhibitions are a very promising component of an export strategy, bringing together US producers and potential buyers from overseas. Exhibitions are particularly valuable to smaller companies that may not have the resources to maintain a sales presence overseas.
“The administration's export initiative is a huge opportunity for organisers to focus their events internationally,” says president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, organiser of Las Vegas’ CEO, Gary Shapiro. “Every organiser should submit a letter describing their event, the number of small US companies participating, and how they don't have to go overseas to sell if overseas buyers come here.”
Organisers are also being urged to use these letters with their own trade press to help promote their event.
