Ohio controlling board approves money for export promotion

By Marc Kovac | March 11, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

COLUMBUS

The state Controlling Board approved an additional $115,000 Monday for efforts to market Ohio products for export.

The funds will go to contractors in three areas, replacing international offices formerly run by the Development Services Agency.

A total of $50,000 will go to the International Business Development Group in the United Kingdom for export promotion and marketing throughout Europe. That’s in addition to an earlier-approved $45,000 contract, according to documents.

An additional $30,000 will go to Tractus Asia Ltd. in Central Hong Kong for activities in China, Taiwan and Mongolia, adding to $45,000 that was initially approved.

And $35,000 will go to Raze Trade Consultants in Mexico City for marketing activities and export support in that country, adding to the $45,000 the firm received as part of an earlier contract for the fiscal year.

The Development Services Agency started shifting its overseas promotional efforts to contractors in 1999, and the last such offices were closed in Belgium and Israel in fiscal years 2013 and 2014, according to agency spokeswoman Stephanie Gostomski. The contractors hired to do the work now represent Ohio and other states and private companies.

The change has saved the state about $1 million over the past several years “without sacrificing services,” Gostomski said in a statement. “In fact, over these same years, Ohio businesses have grown exports, reaching records the past two years.”