WEDC, MadREP to host program on exporting to Western Europe

Madison-area businesses interested in learning more about exporting in Western Europe are invited to a free presentation hosted by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and the Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP) from 8 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24.

The program will feature Peter E. Sanders, WEDC’s trade representative for Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, who will discuss the market opportunities and business trends in the region. WEDC staff also will be on hand to provide more information on exporting and to answer questions.

With its geographic location, the Netherlands is the ideal point of entry for companies seeking to export in the region, while Germany is booming economically and is the engine of European Union’s economy.  

In 2013, Wisconsin exports to Germany topped $700 million, making the country the state’s fifth largest export destination. Wisconsin exports to Germany have jumped 7 percent in the first six months of 2014. The top state exports to the Germany are industrial machinery, medical and scientific equipment, and chemical products.

Belgium ranked 14th in Wisconsin export destinations with $384 million and the Netherlands was 15th with $379 million in 2013.  Both countries are major logistics hubs with important warehousing and distribution centers that move Wisconsin-made goods to other parts of Europe as well as have strong domestic demand for products. Luxembourg, a country of just 543,000, bought over $18 million worth of Wisconsin products in 2013.

The program will be held at the MadREP office, 615 E. Washington Ave. in Madison. The event is free, but advance registration is recommended. Those interested in attending should email Anne Wilder at awilder@madisonregion.org  with their name, title, company, and phone number.  For more information, contact Stanley Pfrang (608) 210–6777 or stanley.pfrang@wedc.org.