Going global ”“ that”™s key for Westchester and the Hudson Valley to remain a market force in the new flat, get-it-there-yesterday world.
“We”™re in China, Milan and Ireland,” County Executive Andrew Spano, told the nearly 200 guests at the Averell Harriman International Trade Awards event, held Tuesday, May 22 in Tarrytown. If Spano and Westchester businesses have their way, that list of countries will be much longer “and there are things we have been able to do to significantly impact the process.”
“When IBM sold to Lenovo (the third-largest personal computer manufacturer in the world, located in China), we went to Beijing and convinced that government to maintain a presence in Westchester County.
“During the last four days, we have spoken at a bio-diversity conference in Milan. We then went to Parma, Italy, where we spoke to 30 businesses. We are about 80 percent through the process of bringing them here.”
International trade is important to Westchester and the entire Hudson Valley, said Spano. “Every country sells internationally ”“ it”™s a key to their success.” While U.S. business has seen companies go overseas, Spano said many, including China, are now being encouraged to invest in the U.S.
“We have a certain panache in Westchester and the Hudson Valley ”“ we are close enough to New York City to make us attractive to international interests, yet far enough away to enjoy a great lifestyle,” Spano said.
Stars of the evening were the 10 businesses recognized for their contributions to the Hudson Valley”™s global presence:
Lorex Industries of Dutchess County (Exporter of the Year Award, under $10 million in sales); SP Industries of Ulster County and J&J Log and Lumber Corp. of Dutchess were co-honorees (Exporter of the Year Award, sales above $10 million); Cross Island Trading Company Inc. of Westchester (Importer of the Year Award); Symbio Technologies of Westchester (New to International Award); Orange County Community College of Orange County (Trade Partner of the Year Award); Nokia of Westchester (Foreign Direct Investment Company of the Year Award); Nice-Pak Products of Rockland (International Company of the Year Award); special recognition went to Konica Minolta of Orange County and Bartizan Corp. of Westchester.
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Created 12 years ago, the International Trade Awards show moves to a new county venue each year to honor Hudson Valley businesses. The 2006 awards gave Westchester its turn at bat, with the World Trade Council of Westchester chairing the event in tandem with the Westchester Business Association. Next year, the Orange County Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the awards.
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