The White House recently presented the Presidential "E" Award to the California Community College Chancellor's Office for their Centers for International Trade Development (CITD). This award recognizes the work that the CITD has done over the past two decades, helping thousands of companies each year enter or expand their ability to conduct international trade. As Chancellor Brice W. Harris said, "We know that helping businesses get their products to foreign markets means providing them with training and access to funds. I believe we provide that service better than anyone."

The presidential "E" Award was created by President John F. Kennedy in December, 1961 in order to recognize persons, firms, and organizations engaged in the marketing of products who make significant contributions to the expansion of the export trade of the United States. This prestigious award is the highest level of U.S. government recognition any American entity may receive for supporting export activity.

For more information about the award and other organizations who received this award, Click Here.

As a way to facilitate cross-border trade, the Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce has organized, for more than 24 years, what has become the region's premier industrial trade show. Known as MEXPORT, the trade show promotes supplier opportunities with major manufacturers in the Southern California/Baja California region.

Incorporated into MEXPORT in 2012, this year's show again featured business counseling sessions provided by San Diego CITD international trade counselors. Companies that pre-registered were able to take advantage of these sessions - part of the CITD's California State Trade and Export Promotion (CalSTEP) activities- and receive assistance with starting or expanding their exports.

To read more about the San Diego CITD's participation at MEXPORT and see additional photos from the tradeshow, click here.

The San Diego CITD, in collaboration with the City of Tijuana's Secretariat of Economic Development (SEDETI) and  Mexico's National Chamber of Transformation Industries (CANACINTRA) - Tijuana Chapter, hosted the 1st Bi-national Small Business Forum in Tijuana, Mexico. The forum, held at CANACINTRA's event center, sought to foster cross-border trade between Baja California - Southern California small and medium-sized businesses. More than 70 business owners and economic development professionals from both sides of the border attended the forum, which was opened with remarks by Miguel Velasco Bustamante - Secretary of Economic Development for the City of Tijuana, Paulo Alfonso Carrillo - Undersecretary of Economic Development for the State of Baja California, and Victor Castillo - San Diego CITD Director. Additional welcome remarks were given by San Diego City Councilmember Mark Kersey, SBA Lead Economic Development Specialist Jill Andrews, and U.S. Department of Commerce Commercial Service Officer, Geoffrey Bogart.

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