The Maryland Department of Commerce is leading two delegations of Maryland companies to overseas trade shows this week, including European Water Technology Week in the Netherlands and Africa Aerospace & Defense in Tshwane, South Africa.
European Water Technology Week will take place from September 19-22 in the city of Leeuwarden, Netherlands, known as the capital of water technology. Maryland Commerce will be exhibiting in a 24 square-meter booth (approximately 258 square-feet). This is the first time the department has attended the trade show, utilizing the opportunity to promote the state’s bluetech sector, one of the top emerging industries in Maryland.
The five Maryland companies participating in European Water Technology Week include Blue Sources (Frederick); Early Charm Ventures (Baltimore); GaiaXus (Bethesda); Innovatreat (Owings Mills); and Tetrahedron, Inc. (Baltimore). Exhibiting companies will receive display space and meeting areas within the booth, as well as matchmaking assistance through Maryland’s global office covering Northern Europe, based in Heidelberg, Germany.
“It is always great for our local companies to attend an international trade show,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill. “These exhibitions provide our Maryland businesses with numerous opportunities, including making new connections, meeting with industry leaders, generating new sales, and growing their presence in the global market.“
Held from September 21-25, Africa Aerospace & Defense is the largest exhibition of its kind on the African continent. This is the third time Maryland has led a delegation to the biennial tradeshow, which attracts attendees from more than 100 countries around the world. Maryland is the only state from the U.S. participating this year, a testament to its thriving aerospace and defense sectors, and can be found at booth #TBD8.
The seven Maryland companies participating in the Africa Aerospace & Defense delegation include Atkinson Aeronautics & Technology (California); AvDyne AeroServices, LLC, (Glen Burnie); BC3 Technologies (Baltimore); MBA Growth Partners (Rockville); Practical Technologies, Inc. (Middle River); Pugh & Tiller PR (Annapolis); and Zanstrasat, LLC (Columbia).
Baltimore County-based business Practical Technologies selected Africa Aerospace & Defense for its first international trade show. By traveling as part of the Maryland delegation, the company will receive booth space to demonstrate its products and services to thousands of attendees from around the world.
“We’re looking forward to meeting prospective customers. We want to understand their requirements, explain our products, and ultimately try to match the two together,” said Dilip Dalvi, president of Practical Technologies. “Our primary goal will be to bring more business to Maryland.”
Maryland’s Office of International Investment and Trade works to stimulate foreign direct investment in the state, offers export assistance, and coordinates international trade and investment missions and trade show opportunities for Maryland companies. The state has 19 foreign trade offices, including Africa (Durban), ASEAN countries (Singapore), Australia (Sydney), Brazil (Sao Paulo), Canada (Montreal), Chile (Santiago), Mainland China (Shanghai), Colombia (Bogota), India (Delhi), Israel (Tel Aviv), Japan (Tokyo), Mexico (Mexico City), Peru (Lima), South Korea (Seoul), Taiwan (Taipei), United Arab Emirates (Dubai), and the United Kingdom (Manchester). The trade offices also include Germany (Heidelberg) and France (Paris), which assist numerous countries throughout Northern and Southern Europe.
About Maryland Commerce
The Maryland Department of Commerce stimulates private investment and creates jobs by attracting new businesses, encouraging the expansion and retention of existing companies, and providing financial assistance to Maryland companies. The Department promotes the State’s many economic advantages and markets local products and services at home and abroad to spur economic development and international investment, trade and tourism. Because they are major economic generators, the Department also supports the arts, film production, sports and other special events. For more information, visit commerce.maryland.gov.
