Governor to Lead Trade Mission to Brazil, El Salvador

Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, First Lady Catherine O’Malley and a delegation of Maryland business leaders, educators and government officials will travel to Brazil and El Salvador for a nine-day trade mission in December.

According to a statement released from the governor’s office, the trip will strengthen economic and cultural ties between Maryland and South and Central America as Governor O’Malley and the delegation meet with top officials, and potential business and investment partners.

“As Maryland’s economy grows we must continue to forge new connections, partnerships and investments abroad. The diverse, expanding economies of Brazil and El Salvador are ideal trade and investment partners for our State,” Governor O’Malley said. “We are going on this trip to promote job creation and economic growth, both by helping Maryland companies that do business or seek to do business abroad, and by encouraging foreign companies to invest more in Maryland.”

The world’s 7th largest economy, Brazil is home to one of Maryland’s 11 foreign trade offices. In 2012, Brazil was Maryland’s 11th-largest export market, with exports to the country more than doubling from $143 million in 2009 to $308 million in 2012. In addition, the Port of Baltimore imports more cargo tonnage from Brazil than any other country in the world. Brazil is the Port’s fourth-largest market for exports. In 2012, the Port of Baltimore handled 1.5 million tons of imported goods from Brazil and exported 1.4 million tons to Brazil.

The delegation will include more than 30 Maryland companies, including Lockheed Martin, Premier Rides, Respira Medical, Cambridge International and Earth Networks; Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker; and representatives of University of Maryland, College Park, Morgan State University and Johns Hopkins University. In addition, Secretary of Business and Economic Development Dominick E. Murray, Secretary of State John P. McDonough, Secretary of the Environment Robert M. Summers and Maryland Port Administration officials will also be part of the delegation.

“As an established technology provider with deep roots in Maryland, we are honored to accompany Governor O’Malley on his trade mission to Brazil,” says Earth Networks President and CEO Bob Marshall. “Last year, weather claimed nearly 10,000 lives around the world. Earth Networks is taking the pulse of the planet by providing critical weather data and climate adaptation approaches that help countries increase resilience to severe weather. In Brazil, we are delivering real-time weather data and warnings and look forward to expanding our public/private partnerships with major government agencies and commercial entities.”

“I am proud to join Governor O’Malley and the Maryland delegation on this trade mission to Brazil,” said Dion D. Banks, Director of Government Affairs for Cambridge International in Cambridge. “I’m looking forward to exploring opportunities for our manufacturing plant in São Paulo and expanding our presence in Brazil. Business ventures like this will position Cambridge International for global growth and new business development.”

During the mission, Governor O’Malley and the delegation will promote Maryland as an ideal place to invest and do business. The mission will begin Dec. 1 in Sao Paulo, Brazil’s largest city. There, Governor O’Malley will meet with U.S. diplomats and executives with companies that do business in Maryland and Brazil. The Governor will also address a number of regional business organizations including the Federation of Industries of Sao Paolo and the Federation of Industries of Rio de Janeiro, which each represent more than 30,000 industrial companies. Later, in Rio de Janeiro, Governor O’Malley will meet Governor Sergio Cabral, as well as with members of Brazil’s biotechnology industry.

The trade mission will conclude with two days in El Salvador, Dec. 8 and 9. There, Governor O’Malley and members of the delegation will meet with top Salvadoran elected officials, business groups and cabinet ministers that oversee the country’s ports. Maryland’s trade with El Salvador, a country of 6.1 million people, totaled $60 million in 2012.

Maryland’s Office of International Investment and Trade works to stimulate foreign direct investment in the State, offers export assistance for small and mid-sized Maryland companies and coordinates international trade and investment missions and trade show opportunities for Maryland companies. For more information on resources available to business that want to market their products or services globally, visit www.choosemaryland.org

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