Business Facilities - September 2008 - (Page 24)

BUSINESS REPORT South Carolina iwasblownaway.com #1507 at www.BusinessFacilities.com more than $3 billion, making Canada the second-largest export market for South Carolina. In an attempt to further strengthen economic ties with Canada, South Carolina opened a state office in Toronto in March 2007. Posting an 80% increase from 2006, Germany replaced Canada as South Carolina’s top export market in 2007, purchasing more than $3.76 billion of products. Germany’s top purchases closely mirrored the state’s overall exports, which include vehicles, electrical and non-electrical machinery, paper and paperboard, and medical equipment and optics. Rounding out the state’s top 10 export markets in 2007, following Germany and Canada, were Mexico, the United Kingdom, China, Australia, Japan, Belgium, France, and Brazil. “Goods made and grown in South Carolina are finding markets around the world through our state’s ports. Strong outbound volume over the past few months indicate that exports continue to increase,” says Bernard S. Groseclose, Jr., president and CEO of the South Carolina State Ports Authority. Three of South Carolina’s most impressive growth markets in 2007 were the United Arab Emirates (up 201.8%), Australia (up 57.8%), and South Africa (up 42.7%). Automobiles, machinery, and aircraft exports played large roles in these increases. After September’s trade mission to China, South Carolina plans to embark on a similar jaunt to Israel from November 6th to 14th. This delegation will be led by Dr. Ray Greenberg, president of the Medical University of South Carolina, and will include stops in the major Israeli cities of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. With an economy zoned in on technology, Israel is a global leader in software development, and the nation’s targeted industrial sectors include hightech electronic and biomedical equipment, processed foods, metal products, and chemicals. In 2007, Israel purchased $28.9 million worth of products from South Carolina, marking a 10.5% increase from 2006. South Carolina’s exports to Israel included paper products, machinery, chemical products, fabrics, and plastic and rubber products, among others. South Carolina’s World Trade Center is located in the state capital of Charleston, and the Center is charged with the mission to “promote and support international commerce through education, networking, trade development services, and international business opportunities for companies and individuals throughout South Carolina.” As the Department of Commerce tours Israel in November, the SC World Trade Center will embark on a trade mission to the United Arab Emirates. This venture will include a visit to Dubai Ports World and the Free Trade Zone, in addition to meetings with trade zone tenants; import and export executives; logistics experts; the government and economic development department of Dubai; and Nakheel Properties, the developer of Dubai’s man-made commercial and residential Persian Gulf property, the Palm Islands. Spanning every inhabited continent, South Carolina’s crisscrossing trade routes and international commerce missions have given the state’s economy a boost and its businesses a passport to the world. 24 SEPTEMBER 2008 http://www.iwasblownaway.com http://www.BusinessFacilities.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Business Facilities - September 2008

Business Facilities- September 2008 Contents First Word Snapshots Corporate Moves:�Mississippi Editor's Location Picks 2008 The Palmetto State Reaches Across the Sea Corporate Moves:�Tennessee Metro Spotlight:�Spokane, WA Biotech: Building Block for Development Wind Power Lifts Iowa Germany:�Europe's Economic Juggernaut California Here We Come Up, Up and Away in North Carolina Corporate Moves:�West Virginia Metro Spotlight:�Decatur/Greensburg, IN Advertiser Index Ask the Expert

Business Facilities - September 2008

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