Bringing the World to PA

Bringing the World to PA (BTW2PA) – formerly known as Pennsylvania International Week – was a two-week tour held on September 12 – 23, 2016. Coordinated by DCED’s Office of International Business Development (OIBD), in partnership with the Regional Export Network (REN), BTW2PA was designed to educate PA companies about exporting opportunities and the local and global resources available to them.

Companies met one-on-one with PA’s Authorized Trade Representatives (ATRs) to discuss foreign market intelligence, agents and distributor candidates and industry and government contacts. Team Pennsylvania assisted with this year’s tour by funding the two-week tour and providing additional staff capacity.

BTW2PA events were held in 10 different locations across the state. In addition to meetings with ATRs, participants could also attend market presentations, educational seminars and networking receptions based on their location. According to a DCED press release about the 2-week, statewide event, 210 countries and territories buy Pennsylvania-grown goods and it accounts for 6.5% of our Commonwealth’s GDP (approximately $394 billion from exports). Secretary Davin explained that our Commonwealth is celebrating export success with “one of the largest, most comprehensive state-sponsored export development programs in the country.”

In the capitol region, Team PA sponsored an evening reception hosted by Governor Wolf and First Lady Wolf on September 19th following daytime meetings of businesses and ATRs at the Governor’s Residence. The network event, hosted in partnership with World Trade Center Harrisburg, drew over 120 attendees and invited guests included Secretaries from the Departments of Agriculture, Community & Economic Development, Education and Labor & Industry, the Philadelphia Consular Corps, State Representatives and Central Pennsylvania manufacturers.

For the full schedule and event recaps, visit the Bringing the World to Pennsylvania website.