WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined Alex Fischer, CEO, Columbus Partnership at the Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business to host the first meeting of the Ohio Export Advisory Group. Participants, which included representatives from AK Steel, GE Aviation, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Limited Brands, and J.R. Smucker Company, discussed the importance of exports to America’s economy and job creation.

“It is critical that more of our small businesses become engaged in the global economy,” Brown said,” Brown said. “Ohio innovators are competing against the world’s best ideas. We are trying to get market share of a global economy and ensure our workers and businesses develop new businesses and jobs. An aggressive export strategy is an important part of this puzzle and is vital to our economic future.”

“Ohio is the 7th largest exporting state in the US and increasing Ohio exports will help create and support thousands of critical jobs. The President and Senator Brown understand the importance of expanding exports – increasing demand, resulting in increased production and jobs. I am here today to tell you the full resources of the federal government, through the President’s National Export Initiative, are available to help Ohio companies export more.”

Brown, also presented an export achievement award recognizing Allied Minerals Company, a central Ohio company which has successfully expanded into the global marketplace. Allied Minerals - which employs 400 workers - produces refractories, large metals-melting machinery used in the steel, iron, and ceramics industries. The company recently finalized a distribution agreement with a Saudi Arabian company.

Brown, a member of the President's Export Council, discussed ways that Ohio businesses can take advantage of new markets and best practices for Ohio businesses exporting. Workers in jobs supported by merchandise exports typically receive wages higher than the national average. In the past 25 years, U.S. exports increased five-fold from $224 billion to more than $1.1 trillion in 2004. About one of every five factory jobs—or 20 percent of all jobs in America's manufacturing sector—depends on exports.

 

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