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7. Marge Bitetti, Marketing Manager, Hall Research Technologies 8. Dr. Joe Greco - California State University Fullerton Professor 9. Richard Swanson - Department of Commerce, Foreign Commercial Service Highlights of this presentation are as follows: • Orange County is the 33rd largest economy in the world, and ranks 12t" of 253 metropolitan areas nationwide with total export sales exceeding $9.3 billion • 40% of Orange County companies sell internationally, and exports account for 12% of the County's economy • Small and medium sized businesses, the vast majority of the 60,000 plus businesses in the County, are unaware of existing international business development resources • The International Business Center (IBC) is a one -stop center for small to medium sized businesses seeking export and import assistance to foreign markets • The primary purpose of the IBC is to promote trade opportunities in California by bringing together all available international business development and capital resources in one location • The IBC gives businesses the tools to expand their products and services into foreign markets • In 2001, the IBC assisted 1,281 California companies and 807 Mexican companies • In 2001, Exports to Mexico totaled $16.5 million and imports from Mexico totaled over $8.9 million • Projections for 2002 include: 1,600 California companies assisted; $40 million in exports/imports/investments; and, 700 new jobs • In 2001, Mexico President Vicente Fox located his U.S. headquarters for the Mexico Trade Center (MTC) within the IBC • The IBC welcomed Rancho Santiago Community College District and its business development partners • Plans for this calendar year include a signing of a historic port agreement creating a Maritime Bridge between the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Manzanillo in Mexico, providing a cost-effective, quicker and safer means of transporting goods between the U.S. and Mexico; expanded operations from the Mexico Trade Center to include more trade specialists and product showcases; inviting President Fox to attend the "Summit of Mayors" in June, 2002 • The City of Santa Ana International Trade Unit organized two highly successful seminars under the Export Trade Assistance Partnership Program (ETAP) • The Department of Commerce will soon have a representative at the International Business Center CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 66 FEBRUARY 19, 2002