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The International Trade Partnership Program contains general marketing initiatives that provide venues to promote the regional relationships we have built around the world. Starting in 1997 with our sponsorship of the U.S.-Italy Trade Conference and our local company recruitment initiative at the Plastics USA trade show and the Plastics Industry Breakfast, we focused our international trade marketing efforts on the promotion of these partnerships. This strategy was further refined in 1998 and will continue in 1999.
The County has particular strengths in its ability to gather and disseminate intelligence (market research, economic and sectoral trends, industry contacts) and to identify and bring together institutional resources and international counterparts. These key contacts and linkages are extremely valuable commodities for companies planning to expand into new markets.
Other activities such as business/company matching, which involve intensive research and time, are conducted on an individual and priority basis.
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Program Purpose
The purpose of the International Trade Partnership Program is to facilitate global trade for Chicago-Cook County businesses by establishing institutional relationships with targeted foreign regions/markets (”sister regions”) and using those relationships, and the information gathered as a result of those relationships, to assist businesses in expanding into new markets. These partnerships are designed to encourage bilateral and reciprocal trade initiatives. The product of the program is a series of regional dossiers that include market intelligence, key institutional contacts, and reports on specific business assistance cases handled.|
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Background
Since 1995, the Department of Planning, Office of Economic Development has developed and implemented a gradually expanding international trade program, well beyond the administration of its marketing program and the normal provision of its business services, available to both domestic and foreign companies since the establishment of the Business Assistance Center.
The ITPP is a natural evolution of strong marketing and business assistance programs which have been carefully developed for almost a decade. Long-term relationships and partnerships have been pursued and maintained and have led to increasingly ambitious initiatives. In order to guarantee successful results from our efforts, it is necessary to define fully the goals, expectations, and capabilities of an international trade program.
It is towards this end that the purpose of this program has been defined as narrowly as possible in the manner outlined above.
The ITPP promotion strategy is integrated with the general marketing plan to retain and expand existing business and attract new business to Chicago-Cook County. Pre-show planning strategies are deployed at each trade show and conference and may involve targeting certain sectors and companies. The following activities are planned to promote the ITPP in 1999:|
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Advertising
- Directory of Foreign Consulates & Organizations, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, January & July
- Illinois World Trade Month Calendar, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, May
- Chicago-Cook County: A Global Marketplace, Area Development magazine supplement, July
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Trade Show Exhibits & Business Outreach
- International Housewares Show, McCormick Place, January 6-13
- PROMAT 99, McCormick Place, February 8-11
- National Manufacturing Week, McCormick Place, March 15-18
- Fancy Foods Show, Natl Assn for Specialty Food Trade, Inc., McCormick Place, March 21-23
- Metal Form 99, Rosemont Convention Center, April 11-15
- COMDEX 99, McCormick Place, April 19-22
- 1999 Supermarket Industry Expo, McCormick Place, May 2-4
- Crossing International Borders Conference, Illinois Department of Commerce, Chicago Hilton, May 13
- BIO 99, Seattle, May 16-20
- Invest in Italy Conference, Chicago Hilton & Towers, May 18
- U.S.-Africa International Trade Development & Tourism Expo 99, State of Illinois Center, May 18-19
- Electric 99, McCormick Place, June 8-10
- Chicagoland Business Expo, Navy Pier, June 15-16
- Institute of Food Technology, McCormick Place, July 25-28
- 55th National Hardware Show, McCormick Place, August 15-18
- Modern Mold and Tooling Expo, McCormick Place, October 5-7
- Graph Expo 99/Converting Expo 99, McCormick Place, October 17-20
- Distribution America, McCormick Place, October 21-24
- Worldwide Food Expo, McCormick Place, October 28-31
- IMET/Industrial Equipment & Maintenance Expo 99, McCormick Place, November 9-11
- FabTech, McCormick Place, November 15-18
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Business Formation/Professional Workshops
The 1999 Exporter Series, International Trade Club of Chicago, at World Trade Center Chicago, January 21, February 4, March 4, March 18, April 15
The International Trade Partnership program (ITPP) has been established to promote increased international trade and international investment between the Chicago-Cook County region of the U.S. and selected Partner Regions around the world. Its mission is to promote bilateral trade and to provide a linkage service between overseas firms and local firms.
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In order of development, Partner Regions include:
- Emilia-Romagna, Italy (original partnership model)
- County Cork, Republic of Ireland
- County Down, Northern Ireland
- Gipuzkoa, Basque, Spain
- Azuay, Ecuador
- Qingdao, China
- Veneto, Italy
- Basilicata, Italy
- Romania
- South Africa
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The ITPP will promote business opportunities by
- Arranging contacts for local businesses wishing to invest or trade with companies in Partner Regions
- Arranging contacts for overseas businesses wishing to invest or trade with companies in Chicago-Cook County
- Arranging trade visits from Chicago-Cook County to Partner Regions
- Arranging for trade visitors from Partner Regions to meet with local companies
- Arranging for trade specialists living in our region, or visiting, to speak to local business groups about particular aspects of international trade
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The ITPP can provide access to local and foreign markets by helping with
- Expedited processing and access to local and foreign governments
- Advice on government assistance programs
- Introduction to key business executives
- Obtaining tax incentives and financing
- Workforce recruitment and training
- International strategic alliances
- Market research assistance
- Joint venturing opportunities
- Site selection and expansion assistance
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The ITPP can provide information on
- Doing business in Chicago-Cook County and in Partner Regions
- Market trends, export/import and demographic statistics
- Target industrial clusters and business sectors
- Political systems and cultural aspects
- High technology and research infrastructure
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