The Unified Port of San Diego played host to an export training event for small businesses on Wednesday, August 21st. The event, titled " Trade Resources for San Diego Exporters" was sponsored and coordinated by the San Diego office of the U.S. Small Business Administration, in collaboration with the Port, the U.S. Department of Commerce - San Diego Export Assistance Center, and the San Diego CITD. The three-hour event, moderated by San Diego SBA's District Director, Ruben Garcia, served to provide information on services and resources available regionally to assist small businesses with accessing foreign market opportunities for their products and services.

Presentation topics included: Identifying Overseas Markets, Legal Aspects of International Trade, Financing Export Sales, Ports, Global Logistics, and Supply Chain, and Opportunites in Mexico, and the California State Trade and Export Promotion Program (STEP). San Diego CITD Director, Victor Castillo, provided an overview of STEP and how California exporters can expand their businesses through the variety of services and assistance that is available through the program.

More than 60 business owners and service provider representatives attended the event, held at the Port Administration Building. The event was also live streamed online and recorded, through the Port's UStream Channel.

Join the San Diego CITD at MedSummit on September 6, 2013. The Baja Medical Cluster along with the State's Economic Development Secretariat are organizing this "Supplier's Day of the Medical Industry" to take place at the Baja California Convention Center.

The event will feature a variety of activities, including:

• OEM and Supplier exhibition
• Specialized workshops
• Business meetings
• Investment seminars
• A visit to two (2) medical plants (this will take place on Thursday Sept. 05 and will be free of charge *first come first serve basis*)

Potential suppliers from both sides of the border attended Baja's 4th Annual Aerospace Supplier Forum to learn about how they can tap into the more than $4 billion aerospace manufacturing industry in Baja California. The event, which took place at the new Baja Center in Rosarito, Baja California, is organized by local government agencies, business associations, and the Baja California aerospace cluster to bring together manufacturers and suppliers for strategic business meetings and learn about business opportunities in the region.

Buyers from manufacturers including Skyworks, Parker Hannifin, UTC Aerospace Systems, Hutchinson Seal, among others, participated at the event. In addition to the supplier exhibition, the event featured two keynote conferences - one on compliance and the other on the need for accelerated growth of the Mexico Supplier Network - and a discussion panel on the Binational Aviation Safety Agreement.

The San Diego CITD helped to promote the forum with potential suppliers in California, and participated as an exhibitor at the event along with other economic development organizations and Baja California government agencies in the CALIBAJA pavilion.  During the event, CITD staff provided support to clients Shamrock Supply Company, a distributor of industrial supplies, and Sky Lumens & Energy, a distributor of LED-based industrial lighting systems. 

Our Youth Entrepreneurship Program (YEP) Fall 2013 Business Plan Competition will open on September 20, 2013! 

The YEP Business Plan Competition involves writing a business plan using the information provided in the online training. Business plans submitted for the competition will be evaluated and scored by a panel of business professionals. The top 3 business plans will receive a prize package designed to help the winners launch their business.

More information on YEP and the business plan competition at  www.yepsd.com.

The San Diego Center for International Trade Development (CITD) assists small and medium-sized enterprises expand internationally by providing low and no-cost programs and services including, one-on-one technical assistance and consulting, market research, training and educational programs, trade leads and special events.

International trade counseling is available by appointment at the following San Diego CITD Locations: