business Archives - Baltimore Sister Cities

Dec 6 / Maryland State of the Ports & Embassy Wine Tasting

World Trade Center Institute - Maryland State of the Ports & Embassy Wine Tasting. Image: Airplanes and container ship against backdrop of port terminals along the waterfront, with a map of the world in the sky.

An exclusive evening celebrating the global connections and trade that drive our economy. Our ports play a vital role in connecting businesses worldwide, and this event is the perfect opportunity to network, learn, and savor international flavors.

Date/time: Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at 3:30 pm – 7:00 pm ET
Location: World Trade Center Baltimore, 401 East Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21202
More info & tickets: wtci.org/events/ports

Here’s what’s in store:

Embassy Wine Tasting: Embark on a global journey through wines from international embassies. Discover the flavors and aromas that the world has to offer — including the countries of two of our sister cities: Japan (where Kawasaki is located) and the Netherlands (where Rotterdam is located).
Breakout Sessions: Gain valuable knowledge about the key international trade challenges. This year’s breakout sessions will navigate the complexities of global supply chains and discuss harnessing Maryland’s wind energy opportunities.
State of the Ports Address: Hear firsthand from Maryland’s Secretary of Transportation, Paul Wiedefeld, as he addresses the current and future prospects of Maryland’s ports — the Port of Baltimore and the Baltimore-Washington International Airport.
Networking: Connect with the leaders driving economic growth in our region. Forge new connections, share ideas, and build meaningful relationships with like-minded professionals.

This event is a once-a-year occasion where you can indulge in great wines, learn about the future of trade, and network with the region’s most influential figures. Secure your spot at this event today!

Dec 6 / Rebuilding Ukraine

US Flag and Ukraine Flag above a photo of a Ukrainian city and waterfront

A seminar for investment and export opportunities into Ukraine

Date: Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Time: 9am-1pm ET
Location: Howard County Economic Development Authority
6751 Columbia Gateway Drive, 1^st Floor, Columbia, MD 21046 (Map)

Learn how your company can participate in available business opportunities as part of the international effort to rebuild Ukraine. Join the Maryland-DC District Export Council (MD-DC DEC), Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee, and other organizations on December 6 for an exciting event focused on helping American companies connect with opportunities in Ukraine.

More information: Event page on MD-DC DEC website.

Planned speakers include:

Maria Angelica Vargas, International Business Development, Howard County Economic Development Authority
Kimberly Brown, Chair of District Export Council, CEO of Amethyst Technologies
Jolanta Coffey, International Trade Specialist, U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. Department of Commerce
Agnes Pawelkowska, International Trade Specialist, Office of Russia, Ukraine, Eurasia, U.S. Department of Commerce
Danica Starks and/or Chrystal Denys, U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. Department of Commerce
Karina Mandell, Chair, Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee (Panel moderator)
Alex Gordin, President and Chairman of Board, Rebuilding Ukraine Agency, Inc.
John Strayhorn, President, Global Insurance Services, LLC
Irene Roth, Co-Founder, Depsol Technologies, LLC

Brought to you by Maryland-DC District Export Council and in partnership with Howard County Economic Development Authority, Maryland Department of Commerce, GIS (Global Insurance Services, LLC), Depsol, Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee, Rebuilding Ukraine (International Rapid Deployment Agency, U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration, and U.S. Commerial Service.

Sept 21 / Expand your Maryland business overseas

Join this event to learn about the benefits of exporting and programs to help your business!

Want to expand your business reach overseas? Attend this forum in Howard County to hear from representatives of Maryland’s Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service, Center for Global Business at the Smith School of Business, and the Maryland-DC District Export Council.

Date/time: Thursday September 21, 2023 at 9-10:30 am ET
Location: Howard County Economic Development Authority, 6751 Columbia Gateway Dr., First Floor Conference Room, Columbia, MD 21046
Admission: Advance registration required
More info and to register: Event page

What You’ll Learn:

How exporting can benefit your business
Federal and state resources to help Maryland companies advance their export sales
Information about applying for export grant funds up to $5,000 and other export financing options
Private sector led networking opportunities and mentoring
Export counseling & training opportunities
Free and low-cost match making services and trade show opportunities

Maryland’s Global Gateway for Businesses

Maryland’s Global Gateway program includes:

Soft landing programs

Foreign companies interested in the US market can soft land in Maryland at participating sites to test out the U.S. market at an affordable rate. The soft landing sites provide participating companies with access to facilities, resources, advisors, and more. Program is coordinated by Maryland Department of Commerce. More info

Maryland companies can explore a foreign market by landing at one of Maryland’s partner locations around the world, including South Korea, Japan, Netherlands, France, UK, and Ireland. Program is coordinated by Maryland Department of Commerce. In addition, financial assistance via the ExportMD grant is available to eligible companies. More info

Maryland Innovation Lab

Launched in 2023, this program matches global startup and scaleup companies from around the world with companies from Maryland who can benefit from their innovative technology. The new “couples” will work together for up to 10 weeks, with strategic support from the lab’s partners. Program is led by World Trade Center Institute Baltimore (WTCI) in partnership with Maryland Department of Commerce and L Marks, a corporate innovation specialist. More info

December 7, 2022 | 13th Annual State of the Ports

Want to hear the latest on transportation and trade in the Mid-Atlantic? Leaders of the Port of Baltimore and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport will headline this event, where they will talk about challenges they are grappling with and innovative solutions they are putting in place. Joining them will be other transportation and trade experts, all who will lead sessions on a variety of issues related to the engines that power global business in the Mid-Atlantic. The annual event is hosted by the World Trade Center Institute, Ports America Chesapeake, and the Maryland Department of Transportation. This year’s event will be in person, with the option to attend virtually. The event includes a reception with international drink tastings provided by embassies.

Date: Wednesday, December 7, 2022
Time: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm EST
Location: World Trade Center Baltimore, 401 E. Pratt St. Baltimore, MD 21202
Register and learn more here.

Maryland soft landing program for international businesses

The State of Maryland has launched a soft landing program for international businesses. The program is coordinated by the Maryland Department of Commerce.

The program provides international companies with the opportunity to test out new markets at an affordable rate, with access to business resources, educational programs, mentors and advisors, networking events, and tailored advice. Co-working spaces, hubs, and incubators located around the state of Maryland provide office space and networking to international firms. Several sites are located in Baltimore. Some of the sites are focused on specialty sectors, and some are for tech in general.

Both in-person and virtual soft landing programs are available.

The program also supports Maryland companies, as reciprocal agreements with programs in other countries, to explore new markets abroad.

Baltimore Sister Cities encourages firms from our sister cities to try out this program, and for Baltimore firms to explore options to expand to our sister cities’ regions.

More information about the soft landing program

If your firm is interested in participating in the program, contact Jessica Reynolds, Senior Director, Office of International Investment and Trade, Maryland Department of Commerce: Jessica.Reynolds@maryland.gov.

For more info about doing business in Maryland and Baltimore

About Maryland: open.maryland.gov
Baltimore Development Corporation: baltimoredevelopment.com
Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore: www.greaterbaltimore.org

Maryland bluetech | greentech business delegation to Europe

The Maryland Department of Commerce and several Maryland environmental tech and water tech companies are participating in a business delegation to the Netherlands, including Water Tech Europe trade show and other site visits, during the week of September 19 – 24, 2022.

The trip includes:

1. Participation in the Water Tech Europe trade expo and the accompanying Wetsus Congress at European Water Technology Week (EWTW) which brings together sessions and field visits focused on topics like sustainable water supply, wastewater treatment and reuse, circular economy, energy production from water, climate resilience, and new water sources. This is the place for professionals working on solutions for tomorrow’s water issues. EWTW attendees include universities, research institutes, innovative companies and corporate end-users, government representatives, and water clusters from Europe and around the world, including water clusters from the U.S. like the Milwaukee Water Council. European Water Technology Week takes place in Leeuwarden in the northeast region of the Netherlands. The Maryland Department of Commerce has a pavilion at Water Tech Europe for environmental tech businesses from Maryland.

2. Site visits — Maryland has planned networking opportunities and field visits to sites in The Hague / Rotterdam in the western region of the Netherlands for the delegation to learn about innovative technologies and meet potential business partners. The program is tailored to the focus sectors of the participating companies. Maryland Commerce consultants in Europe are providing free networking assistance to participants.

3. Maryland break-out session and networking event — Free, in-person event on September 22, 2022 at 5-8pm CET at Venture Café Rotterdam. An opportunity for Dutch entrepreneurs to meet the Maryland delegation and learn about opportunities to soft land their business in Maryland, your gateway to the U.S.A. Event info page

Delegation goals

Help Maryland firms explore business opportunities abroad
Find international business partners to bring innovative technologies to Maryland
Network with U.S. and European firms, innovation hubs, and research institutes
Raise the international profile of Maryland companies

Focus sectors

The program and topics is tailored to the focus areas of the participating companies, but it includes topics like:

Drinking water and wastewater management
Urban water management and climate resilience
Water in agriculture
Maritime technologies
Aquaculture
Renewable energy
Nature-based solutions for climate adaptation
Circular economy; water conservation and re-use technologies
Pollution; plastic soup
Digitalization

Potential site visits include:

Business networking events in Rotterdam/The Hague region
The Green Village at Delft Technical University (field lab for sustainable innovation)
Port of Rotterdam; Port XL maritime tech accelerator
Envirotech testing facilities
Stormwater water infrastructure; storm surge barriers
Aquaculture sites
In addition, the EWTW Wetsus Congress includes field trips related to resource recovery from wastewater, energy production from water, circular water systems, and horticulture. Tours start from WaterCampus in Leeuwarden.

Eligibility

Eligibility: Participation is open to Maryland firms — firms that have their business operations in Maryland.
Financial assistance: Maryland businesses can apply for the Export MD grant to cover a portion of their trip expenses (up to $5,000 reimbursement). The deadline to apply for this grant has passed.

Participating Maryland companies

Early Charm • Tetrahedron, Inc. • Innovatreat • Blue Sources • GaiaXus

Are you a Dutch company looking to do business in Maryland?

Maryland is the ideal place to expand your business to the USA, and for you to find Maryland partners to assist in addressing the environmental challenges facing us all.

Maryland has developed innovative programs and incentives to help international companies interested in developing a presence in the U.S. market, including the Maryland Global Gateway soft landing program: https://commerce.maryland.gov/softlanding which is available to companies in any sector, not only environmental technology.

The soft landing program is available year-round, but if you apply by Oct 31, 2022, your company may be eligible for additional financial assistance and support (press release about the Oct 31 application deadline)

For more information

Contact the delegation’s leader:
Andrew Kreinik, Regional Manager for Europe and Australia at Maryland Department of Commerce: andrew.kreinik@maryland.gov (or contact Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee for information).

Maryland Commerce’s blog post:
https://open.maryland.gov/blog/maryland-blue-tech-sector-on-full-display-at-european-water-technology-week

Learn more about doing business in Maryland:
https://open.maryland.gov/information-for/international-business

Logos of the Maryland companies in the delegation: Early Charm, Tetrahedron, Innovatreat, Blue Sources, GaiaXus

Sep 8-11 / China International Fair for Investment & Trade

The China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) occurs in September of every year in Xiamen, China. CIFIT aims to focus on international business investment, promotion, development, and relations both in and outside China. The fair has been held annually for more than 30 years in the city of Xiamen in Fujian Province in southeast China. It is the largest such event in the country, regularly attracting more than 100,000 business people and 5,000 enterprises from more than 100 countries.

Due to the current COVID-19 situation, CIFIT has elevated their 2020 platform to be both online and in-person.

This year, the Baltimore-Xiamen Sister City Committee (BXSCC) is partnering with the Maryland Department of Commerce to have a virtual booth to advertise and promote multiple aspects of Maryland industry and business. The BXSCC is celebrating 35 years of sister city relations with Xiamen this year.

More information

CIFIT website: www.chinafair.org.cn/CifitSystem/english/#/index

For more info on Maryland’s virtual booth at CFIT or other Maryland-China business opportunities: email at Maryland Department of Commerce or , BXSCC Business Sub-Committee Chair.

Baltimore-Xiamen Sister City Committee: bxscc.org