State Leading Delegation of Maryland Companies, Universities to Hannover Messe Trade Fair

BALTIMORE, MD (April 21, 2016) – The Maryland Department of Commerce is leading a delegation of Maryland companies and universities next week to Hannover Messe, the world’s foremost trade fair for industrial technology held April 25-29 in Hannover, Germany. The Maryland delegation will be part of the largest-ever U.S. delegation of more than 390 companies and organizations. This marks the first time that Maryland has led a delegation to this trade fair, which attracts more than 200,000 attendees from around the world.

“Hannover Messe is truly a unique opportunity to reach the decision makers of many of the world’s largest industrial technology companies and let them know that Maryland provides a great entry point into the U.S. market,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill. “With exhibitors from more than 70 countries, this show is also critical to any Maryland company looking to market their products and services to new, overseas customers.”

Maryland Commerce will have a booth to promote the state’s assets within the SelectUSA Investment Pavilion. In addition, 11 Maryland companies will be exhibiting at the show: DigitaLogic (Baltimore City); International Waste Industries (Rockville); John S. Connor (Glen Burnie); Link Labs USA (Annapolis); Man & Machine (Landover); MET Laboratories (Baltimore City); Patton Electronics (Gaithersburg); Washington Laboratories (Gaithersburg/Frederick), Phenix Technologies (Accident); Automated Precision (Rockville); and FASTech (Laurel). A number of companies in the Maryland delegation received funding through Commerce’s ExportMD program to pay for their exhibit space. In addition, the University of Maryland, College Park and Johns Hopkins University will be a part of the Maryland delegation.

“As a leading global research university, the University of Maryland is proud to partner with the Maryland Department of Commerce as a member of the Hanover Messe delegation,” said Brian Darmody, associate vice president for Corporate and Foundation Relations and a member of the state delegation. “We intend to bolster our international relationships with the many Maryland firms attending the trade fair and with our international research partners, such as Siemens, Fraunhofer Research Institutes, and other firms attending. We will also market the UMD International Incubator, which aims to attract international technology firms to Maryland to help grow the state’s economy through additional foreign direct investment.”

“We feel that Hannover Messe is the appropriate venue for us to engage the broader international market. We’ve had great success with our product nationally and we can use this trip to evaluate the possibility of a global expansion,” said Ali Khorramshahi, president of DigitaLogic. “We thank the Commerce team for their professional and cordial support that made this possible for us.”

Maryland’s Office of International Investment and Trade works to stimulate foreign direct investment in the State, offers export assistance for small and mid-sized Maryland companies and coordinates international trade and investment missions and trade show opportunities for Maryland companies. The state also maintains a network of ten foreign trade offices overseas, including China (Shanghai), Taiwan (Taipei), South Korea (Seoul), Africa (Nigeria), Mexico (Mexico City), Brazil (Sao Paulo), France (Paris), Israel (Tel Aviv), India (Delhi), and the United Arab Emirates (Dubai). For more information on resources available to businesses that want to market their products or services globally, visit our website.

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.

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