Chamber, YSU announce global trade initiative

By brandon KLEIN

and Kalea Hall

news@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, Youngstown State University and eight other economic-development organizations in a 10-county, two-state region announced a global trade initiative Thursday.

The OH-PA Stateline Export Initiative brings YSU’s International Trade Assistance Center’s and the chamber’s international trade efforts together.

The two brought economic- development leaders from the Mahoning Valley and Ashtabula County in Ohio, and Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Lawrence, Beaver and Butler counties in Pennsylvania into the initiative.

The International Trade Assistance Center at YSU directs companies on international trade. YSU students help companies to understand international trade, export laws and other areas.

Mousa H. Kassis, adviser of the center and a YSU economics professor, said it is important to have the partnership with the chamber and others so that multiple entities are involved in highlighting international trade.

“It [international trade] is very important because the rules of economic growth have changed,” he said.

With the majority of the world’s population living outside the U.S., it is important to reach outside the country, he said. And more exports translates to more jobs for the area. The major goal of the initiative is to collaborate and consolidate the operation for companies.

“We are helping these companies in finding resources and making it a one-stop shop,” Kassis said.

This month, it will distribute a survey to manufacturers in the 10 counties.

Sarah Boyarko, vice president of economic development for the chamber, said national and global companies will look to partner with area manufacturers.

“This will enable us to not only provide specific details for Mahoning and Trumbull [counties], but now we can provide specific details for all the surrounding counties,” she said.

Aside from the survey, Boyarko said the initiative will produce a website and work as a resource for international activity such as foreign investments and global trade.

The initiative has 22 committee members including those representing U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson of Marietta, R-6th; U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th; and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Cleveland.

“YSU’s International Trade Assistance Center and the Regional Chamber are to be congratulated on leading this initiative, which will provide manufacturers the opportunity to expand their reach and sell their goods to the world,” Ryan said in a statement.