Politics & Government

California Export Growth Benefits Inland Empire Companies

Six-month 2012 California merchandise exports are up 6 percent over same period last year, the city of Murrieta joined trade officials in announcing.

City of Murrieta officials joined the International Trade Administration in a recent announcement that export data shows California merchandise exports increased 6 percent in the first half of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011, growing from $77.4 billion to $82.0 billion.

“Exports are an increasingly important part of California’s economic recovery as local businesses both big and small start to look beyond our borders to increase their customer base,” said Francisco Sánchez, under secretary of Commerce for International Trade. “The International Trade Administration is committed to helping California businesses leverage financing and other key resources to boost exports that support thousands of good, high-paying jobs across the state. I encourage companies to contact our local U.S. Commercial Service offices to find out about new export opportunities and the resources available to them.” 

California’s first half 2012 merchandise export sales outpaced the 2011 figures for the same period in many top destinations, including Mexico (up 20 percent), Australia (17 percent), Belgium (9 percent), Hong Kong (8 percent), and United Kingdom (7 percent), according to a news release.

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Key merchandise export categories include computer and electronic products, transportation equipment, machinery manufactures, miscellaneous manufactures, and chemicals.

“The growth in California (Inland Empire region of Southern California) exports is not just about big companies ” said Fred Latuperissa, director of the U.S. Commercial Service in Ontario, Calif. “98 percent of all U.S. exporters are small -and medium-sized firms, and our office continues to focus on these businesses as they look to build their bottom line by making new sales abroad.  We’d like to help you realize that potential.”

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ITA’s U.S. Commercial Service has entered into a strategic partnership with the city of Murrieta and the California Inland Empire District Export Council (CIEDEC), in which the organizations are working together to increase export awareness among the state’s small and medium-sized businesses. This includes joint marketing and outreach, co-hosting of trade events and seminars, cross training, and other activities.

CIEDEC announced the new 2013 executive board: Rick Gibbs, mayor for the city of Murrieta as chair, Chris Kuran, president of Murrieta-based Waterstone Faucets as vice-chair and Don Driftmier, CPA, of Ontario-based Noble House Entertainment Pictures as treasurer.  

"This is an illustration of how Murrieta is taking an active leadership role in promoting the growth of manufacturing exports as a key component of Murrieta’s economic development strategy to continue to grow our economy," said Bruce Coleman, economic development director for the city of Murrieta.

Coleman said it was exciting that Gibbs and Kuran will be taking an active role in the board.

Waterstone Faucets recently undertook a major expansion of their manufacturing operations in Murrieta, Coleman added.

"We view the U.S. Department of Commerce as our partner in the process of expanding exports from Murrieta and in growing the Murrieta/Temecula Twin Cities regional economy," Coleman said.

Since 2009, ITA has assisted approximately 15,000 U.S. companies record nearly 47,000 export successes. These results supported the 9.7 million Americans employed by export-related jobs in 2011, an increase of 1.2 million jobs since 2009.

For more information on exporting, contact the U.S. Commercial Service in Ontario at 909-390-8283 or visit www.export.gov/inlandempire. Businesses can also order the "Basic Guide to Exporting" available at Export.gov/basicguide

For more information about the impact of exports on individual states, visit the Office of Trade and Industry Information’s web page at Trade.gov/mas/ian.

—News release submitted by the city of Murrieta


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