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World Trade Center Dublin Representatives Visit Arkansas

World Trade Center Dublin Representatives Visit Arkansas

 

Representatives of the World Trade Center Dublin and World Trade Center Boston visited Arkansas and met with the World Trade Center Arkansas team in Rogers from Aug. 21 – 23 to explore potential opportunities to work together and increase trade between Ireland and Arkansas businesses.

Representatives included Rani Dabrai, Global Trade Director for World Trade Center Dublin and Maureen Pace, Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Business Development for the Drew Company which oversees World Trade Centers Dublin, Boston and Washington D.C. Dabrai and Pace also met with other businesses and organizations in Arkansas.

Boon Tan, Senior Director of Global Trade Strategy for the World Trade Center Arkansas, arranged and facilitated meetings with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, the University of Arkansas, as well as companies such as Galley Support Innovations and Cat Squared.

“Arkansas is a place which clearly supports entrepreneurship at a deep level,” Dabrai said. “I think we have a lot of similarity between the cultures. Ireland is a deeply entrepreneurial country and with the upcoming Brexit movement, we are at a critical point in time where we’re in a unique position to positively affect the international trading environment.”

Dabrai said that another visit planned for 2019 is currently being discussed. This visit will allow her and her team to learn about more opportunities in the state of Arkansas.

 

Future Opportunities

 

“In the coming weeks and months, we plan to build upon trade mission possibilities in the key sectors and also identify ways that we can help attract business to the State of Arkansas,” she said. “We also developed opportunities by identifying synergies in both aerospace and agriculture – spaces that are richly populated in Ireland.”

Dabrai said that in her visit she learned that Irish-owned companies are among the largest employers in the state and that she hopes to continue to build on the strong relationship that already exists.

“One of the strengths of the World Trade Centers Association is that we are able to connect and partner with other Centers across the globe,” said Boon Tan. “Rani and Maureen are both deeply dedicated to growing trade and are valuable partners to the World Trade Center Arkansas. We look forward to working with them in the future to develop more opportunities for Arkansas businesses.”

The mission of the World Trade Center Arkansas is to grow trade and increase Arkansas exports by connecting Arkansas businesses to the world through international trade services. The Center is part of the University of Arkansas and serves as the trade promotion arm for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. For more information and valuable updates, please follow the Center on Facebook and Twitter or subscribe to the World Trade Center Arkansas newsletter.