Missouri Small Business Development Center to Host Seminar on Exporting to Czech Republic and Central Europe

The Missouri Small Business Development Center (SBDC) hosted at Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) is excited to announce a special upcoming event that coincides with MSSU’s international semester: “Why Export to Czech Republic and Central Europe?”

This seminar is scheduled for Thursday, November 17 at 9:30 am in the Cornell Auditorium in Plaster Hall. Admission is free and interested participants can register here.

In 2020, Missouri businesses exported over $100 million worth of goods and services to countries in Eastern Europe with over 20% of that value being exported to the Czech Republic (Global Edge).

Eastern Europe accounts for 1.89% of the total world population (Worldmeters.info), representing opportunities for Missouri businesses in a wide variety of industries. With a strong relationship between the United States and Europe, Eastern Europe is a region worth exploring.

Learn more about the many opportunities and assistance available for any business interested in exploring international trade with the Czech Republic and Eastern Europe, which is made up of the following countries:

  • Belarus
  • Bulgaria
  • Czech Republic (Czechia)
  • Hungary
  • Moldova
  • Poland
  • Romania
  • Slovakia
  • Ukraine

The Program will be presented by Joshua Kaplan, the Director of U.S. Commercial Service from the Kansas City Office of the U.S. Department of Commerce and International Trade Administration. In this capacity, Joshua leads a team of International Trade Specialists responsible for working with the business community in eastern Kansas and western Missouri to increase sales in markets around the world. Joshua has spent the last eight years working with this agency, and prior to his time in Kansas City he served six years in central Virginia advising urban and rural businesses in a variety of industries on best practices for achieving international sales objectives.

Prior to his work with the U.S. Commercial Service, Joshua held a variety of positions related to international trade, including managing foreign assistance programs at the U.S. Trade and Development Agency and leading trade remedy investigations at the U.S. International Trade Commission. Joshua has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in International Trade Policy from George Washington University. Joshua resides in Kansas City, Missouri with his wife and two children.

If you have any exporters in your community or if you know if businesses that may want to begin exporting their products and services, the U.S. Commercial Service is a great resource. If you would like to speak to Mr. Kaplan individually, please contact the Missouri SBDC office hosted at MSSU and they will provide his contact information.

 

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