About “Bringing the World to NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA”

 

“Bringing the World to Northeastern PA” is our premier annual event.  This year we will welcome Pennsylvania’s Authorized Trade Representatives to the Woodlands Inn & Resort in Wilkes-Barre to meet one-on-one with companies interested in developing international markets.  These Trade Representatives are your company’s market partners abroad - providing in-country assistance, personalized market intelligence, partner searches, company background checks, and support at in-country trade initiatives and much more. 

 

This is a unique event that should not be missed by any company that is thinking about exporting, developing a new market or expanding on an existing one.  Whether you’re assessing the marketability of your product, have a specific question about standards or regulatory requirements, are looking to identify an overseas partner or almost anything in-between join us for the annual “Bringing the World to Northeastern PA” – PA Trade Routes! 

 

What to expect?

 

Registration & Scheduling

When you register to attend “Bringing the World to Northeastern PA,” we do our best to personalize your schedule to meet your needs and reflect your preferences.  We build the day’s program as registrations come in, and therefore, it can take some time before you receive your final meeting schedule. You should expect to receive your schedule approximately one week prior to the event, and of course, we’ll do our best to keep you informed of any changes.  (Every attempt will be made to meet at least your top three choices.)

 

Day of the Event

One-on-one meetings will be scheduled throughout the day from 8 AM to 4 PM on a first-come-first-served basis.  After you sign-in at our registration desk, simply check your schedule, find the appropriate Trade Representative, have a seat and start your one-on-one meeting.  (Meeting tables for each Trade Representative will be set up around the room.)  Representatives from both NEPA and the Commonwealth will be on hand to help guide you and answer any questions you might have. 

 

You guide your conversation with the representatives – introduce your product or service, ask questions about the market, etc.  The representatives will be interested in learning about your business:  products and/or services, current marketing and sales strategies, primary customers, where you’re selling, what you’d like to accomplish… Basically, they’re looking for any information that will help them understand your business and goals.  Ideally, they will help translate this information into a strategy to help you succeed in the market they represent. 

 

A continental breakfast & lunch will be provided free of charge.   

 

What to bring?

You don’t need to bring anything to “Bringing the World to Northeastern PA” other than yourself, your knowledge, your ideas and some business cards.  However, especially if this is your first time meeting the Trade Representatives, it might be a good idea to bring some marketing materials or product samples to help the representatives better understand your business.  Oftentimes the representatives will prefer not to carry back large amounts of paper, pamphlets or brochures.  Therefore, we encourage companies to have a hardcopy of their marketing materials to show but, if at all possible, to have the information on a disc or available online for the representatives to reference when they are back in their home country. 

 

Follow-up

“Bringing the World to Northeastern PA” is actually part of a much larger program known as Pennsylvania International Week (PIW).  Although the program now lasts closer to one month, the concept has remained the same - events very similar to this one are held in nine other locations around the state.  As a result, the Trade Representatives meet with MANY companies from around the state during their visit.  When they return home, they prioritize projects and start working with the companies that have the best prospects or most immediate need for assistance.  Therefore, it is possible you won’t hear back from the representatives immediately.  However, NEPA staff will be available to assist you if you have any questions or immediate concerns.  While the representatives are evaluating their meetings, NEPA staff will also be contacting you looking for your feedback:  Where are your best prospects?  What did you discuss with the representatives? What follow-up do you need?…  In the long run, this will help expedite the follow-up process despite any backlog at the overseas offices.  Finally, staff will help guide you through the process of submitting Work Orders and contacting the representatives to ensure you receive the necessary assistance for your business to succeed at exporting.