PORT ANGELES — A Seattle-based finance team pitched the benefits of exports to Port Angeles business leaders on Monday.
A five-member panel from the Export Finance Assistance Center of Washington told Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce members that small businesses have much to gain by moving their products overseas.
The panel consisted of:
• Bob Deane, international trade specialist with the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Seattle.
• Andrew Crowder, business development manager for the Business Services Division of the state Department of Commerce.
• Tim Rasmussen, president and chief executive officer of Export Finance Assistance Center of Washington.
• Pru Balatero, regional manager for Export Solutions Group at U.S. Export Assistance Center in Seattle.
• Nigel Moore, vice president and chief operating officer for Impact Washington, a nonprofit consultant in Mukilteo.
The panel focused on big-picture benefits of exporting rather than the Port Angeles market.
The Export Finance Assistance Center of Washington helps businesses find agents or distributors in other countries and conducts background checks on prospective partners.
“I can’t emphasis enough how incredibly powerful it is to have colleagues around the world,” Deane said.
“The bottom line, once again, is to help companies export.”
The state Department of Commerce — formerly known as the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development — helped 700 to 800 companies last year, Crowder said.
Hundreds helped
Crowder told the audience of nearly 100 at the chamber luncheon at the Port Angeles CrabHouse Restaurant that the state can team up local businesses with overseas contractors.
“You’ve already paid for us through your tax dollars,” Crowder said.
“We want you to use us.”
Crowder said one in three jobs in Washington depends on exports, which account for 12 to 15 percent of the state’s gross domestic product, mostly in aerospace and agriculture.
“We are No. 1 in export value per worker,” Crowder said.
“That is, Washington state workers produce more export value than any other workers in any other state.
“We’re really good at it.”
Crowder asked if there were any local firms that directly export.
One man raised his hand and said his company exports catamarans to Central and South America.
“I would encourage you to think about exporting if you have not done so already,” Crowder told the audience.
Never too small
Many businesses think they are too small to export, Balatero said. But small business accounted for $375 billion of exports in 2006, he said.
Balatero said 70 percent of all exporters have fewer than 20 employees, and that 97 percent of all exporters are small businesses.
Ninety-six percent of the world’s population — and 67 percent of the world’s purchasing power — is located outside of the U.S, he said.
Russ Veenema, executive director of the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce, asked the panel for examples of what kind of exports would come from a small community like Port Angeles.
Crowder said a Sunnyside orchardist developed an apparatus that can be attached to a tractor and used to treat orchards with weed killer.
Moore cited examples of where the Impact Washington and its partner agencies have been successful in Clarkston.
One company made fish tanks for moving fish from one hatchery to another.
Log exports
After the luncheon, Moore said sporadic timber exports have picked up in recent years.
“There should be some opportunities,” he said.
Deane agreed.
“The main thing I’ve seen, from my perspective, is for new companies that have never exported before, the domestic market is falling off so they’re looking now toward overseas markets,” he said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.