INCREASING EXPORTS: The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina is ready to assist N.C. businesses in restoring or growing international sales.

North Carolina businesses exported a record $34.35 billion in merchandise in 2019 but started this year facing the economic impact of an unprecedented global pandemic.

Since then, trade specialists at the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina have stressed one message to the hundreds of businesses they serve across the state: The EDPNC can help them begin, restore or grow international sales as an important piece of their recovery.

"What worries me is that over the next year, many businesses in North Carolina may feel the need to shut the door on international opportunities because 'that's where COVID-19 came from,'" says John Loyack, EDPNC vice president of global business services. "But now is the time to stay engaged internationally.

The businesses that will come out of this situation in the strongest position will have used this time as an opportunity to strengthen their international sales relationships. This is also an opportunity to rethink and strengthen your supply chain. We have the resources to help."

The EDPNC trade team supports more than 600 businesses a year on the state's behalf, with varied services that are generally free. Its clients, both novice and veteran exporters, are primarily small manufacturers or service providers with 500 or fewer employees that lack the international sales staff of big corporations. They turn to the EDPNC for export education and preparation, as well as ways to connect to international distributors and buyers.

A POWERFUL ALLY

The EDPNC international team includes five Raleigh-based managers, each specializing in specific industry sectors ranging from aerospace to pharmaceuticals, and six internationally located trade offices in Canada, Mexico, Europe, Japan, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates.

"Our global offices can match businesses with prospective international distributors, resellers and buyers," says Mike Hubbard, EDPNC director of international trade. "They can also be very helpful in terms of vetting new overseas suppliers for a company."

The EDPNC is eager to help manufacturers seek alternative domestic or international sources for product components if their supply chain has been broken by COVID-19 plant closures.

"We're also strongly encouraging businesses to search for a North Carolina-based supplier listed on the Manufactured in North Carolina website or find other domestic suppliers through industry-specific resources such as the Americas Apparel Producers' Network...