FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cologne, Chicago – February 16, 2012
STEP PROGRAM AND FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR U.S. EXPORTERS
Koelnmesse Inc., the Chicago-based office of the German organizer of Intermot, today announced that INTERMOT (October 3-7, 2012 in Cologne, Germany) has been granted Trade Fair Certification by the U. S. Department of Commerce. Consequently, U.S. exhibitors at the show might be eligible to receive government funding to offset part of their cost of exhibiting at this event.
The State Trade and Export Promotion Program (STEP) is a 3-year trade & export initiative authorized by the Small Business Jobs Act 2010. Funded by federal grants and matching funds from the states, the STEP Program is designed to help increase the number of companies active in exporting and to strengthen existing U.S. exporters. The SBA is authorized to grant up to $ 30 million to states each year under the program. Upon inquiry, the State Economic Development offices of California, Arizona and Oregon have already confirmed that funding through this program is anticipated to be available for the fall of 2012, coinciding with the Intermot dates.
Said Koelnmesse Inc.’s President, Mette Petersen: “Exhibiting in overseas trade shows such as Intermot provide U.S. exporters with a tremendous opportunity to generate export revenues and therefore can become a very valuable investment. The USA Pavilion at Intermot offers a unique chance to meet customers, collect market intelligence, and evaluate potential channel partners. We look forward to working with interested companies in all states on increasing their export revenues by making a strong impact at Intermot.”
Leading the U.S. companies expected to show products at Intermot will be Harley- Davidson, Polaris, Bel-Ray, K&N Engineering, National Cycle, Hot Leathers, Lethal Threat Designs, All Balls Racing and Procom Engineering – ElectroSport. 30+ U.S. companies are expected to take part in Intermot this year.
The trade fair certification by the USDOC is the agency’s official recognition of Intermot’s considerable potential for U.S. exporters to overseas markets in the two-wheeler industry. As a certified trade show, the USDOC will provide a range of services such as offering pre-show promotion, market research and counseling before, during and after the event, business lead generation, matchmaking services as well as working with U.S. exhibitors on issues such as trade mark protection. Details can be found here:
http://export.gov/germany/TradeShowsEvents/FeaturedGermanTradeShows/eg_d e_034820.asp
For questions on the Matchmaking services offered by the U.S. Commercial
Service, please contact:
Kristian Richardson
Senior International Trade Specialist
U.S. Commercial Service
email: kristian.richardson@trade.gov
phone: 602.254.2907
For information about the STEP Program and Funding, please view this website:
http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/1/2889
Or contact the local representative in your state:
http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/1/2889/resources/14315
For questions on exhibiting at Intermot, please contact:
Silke Eidam
U.S. Sales & Project Manager – Intermot
Koelnmesse, Inc.
Cologne International Trade Fairs
8700 West Bryn Mawr Ave., Suite 640 N
Chicago, Illinois 60631
P +1-773-326-9929
F +1-773-714-0063
E s.eidamkoelnmesse.us
About Intermot
The biennial Intermot is the world’s largest industry event for the motorcycles, scooters and bicycles and will take place from October 3-7, 2012 in Cologne, Germany. The 2010 edition of this event saw 1,106 exhibitors from 40 countries and approx. 195,000 visitors from 110 countries www.intermot-cologne.com.
