High Point Market Gets DOC International Buyer Designation Again

April 15, 2010  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in on April 16, 2010 The U.S. Department of Commerce has named the 2011 High Point Market a designated U.S. Commercial Service International Buyer Program (IBP) event.

This is the fourth time the High Point Market has been honored with the IBP designation.

Brian D. Casey, president and chief executive officer of the High Point Market Authority, said the IBP program is designed to connect U.S. companies with foreign customers, and to raise global awareness of a designated event.

"The High Point Market is among more than 40 U.S. trade events representing major industry business sectors that have been selected for the IBP by the U.S. department of Commerce for calendar year 2011," he said. "It is the only home furnishings trade event to receive the designation and recognizes the importance of our Market to the home furnishings industry here in the U.S. and the role that we play in the expansion of exports. The IBP designation also underscores the global nature of our Market and its influence on the world economy."

"We are pleased to be partnering again with High Point Market in 2011 to increase exports in this industry that support economic growth and jobs for Americans," says Blanche Ziv, IBP director. "Supporting President Obama's National Export Initiative, which aims to double U.S. exports within the next five years and create 2 million new jobs, the International Buyer Program aims to increase attendance of foreign buyers to High Point and other U.S. trade shows accepted into the IBP."

Matchmaking activities between delegates, foreign buyers and exhibitors will be led by Department of Commerce personnel throughout Market week.

Last Spring, the U.S. Commercial Service helped in the recruitment of delegations from Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Ukraine, Kenya, Honduras and Canada.

"This Market, we are welcoming major delegations led by Commercial Service representatives from Saudi Arabia, Columbia and Canada, as well as delegates from the Ukraine and Jordan," Casey said. "These special delegations are in addition to the international buying organizations traveling to High Point this week from Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean, South America, Asia and the Pacific Rim countries, Africa, India and the Middle East."

"International promotion of the High Point Market has been augmented by our international trade publication initiative, through which we invite journalists from all over the world to High Point to cover the Market each season," he added. "This week we are hosting editors from Dubai, Brazil, Columbia. In prior Markets we have hosted editors from Australia, Canada, Korea, the Netherlands, Spain, Japan, Italy, India, Mexico and Russia, and this has resulted in very positive editorial coverage in publications around the world. These articles are proving to be much more cost-effective in garnering attention from readers in these regions than simply booking advertisements."