International reach: business leaders look to continue Utah's export boom.

AuthorSutherland, Spencer
PositionFocus

In his January 2010 State of the Union address, President Barack Obama shared his vision for the future of U.S. exports. "We need to export more of our goods" he said. "Because the more products we make and sell to other countries, the more jobs we support right here in America."

The admonition was attached to an aggressive goal--to double national exports over the next five years. Reaching this goal, the president said, would support two million jobs in America. "We have to seek new markets aggressively, just as our competitors are" he added. "If America sits on the sidelines while other nations sign trade deals, we will lose the chance to create jobs on our shores"

To find a blueprint for meeting such a high mark, look no further than Utah, the only state in the union to double its exports over the past five years. In 2010, the state logged $13.57 billion in exports, up from $6.07 billion in 2005.

Fueling the Growth

What is responsible for the significant export spike of the past half decade? According to Lew Cramer, president and CEO of World Trade Center Utah, there's no one singular factor. And that's a good thing. Thanks to a diverse economy, Utah is seeing a rise in exports across a wide range of industries.

For the past 150 years, the top spot on Utah's export list has remained unchanged. Primary metals again led the way in 2010, topping $7.6 billion and accounting for just over half of the state's total exports. The metals industry, however, is not the only sector that is growing.

"The biggest growth area for us is in the high-tech area," Cramer says. "We are seeing phenomenal expansion in conductor chips, such as those created by IM Flash Technologies in Lehi. If they have a good month, Utah has a good month."

The state's colleges and universities have also been successful in creating and marketing technology products--especially in the medical device area--that are appealing to buyers outside of the United States.

"When you expand your exports, particularly in high-end products, you're building high-end jobs at home in Utah" Cramer says. "So we're really excited about what's coming out of the research departments at colleges throughout the state"

The aircraft industry is also proving to be a boon the state's export sector. Utah divisions of Boeing, L-3 Communications and ATK are not only creating local jobs but also impacting the manufacture and supply of the global aircraft component market.

Small Business; Big Impact

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